Pyrolytic cyanobacteria derived activated carbon as high performance electrode in symmetric supercapacitor. (1st January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Keliang; Cao, Yuhe; Wang, Xiaomin; Fan, Qihua; Gibbons, William; Johnson, Tylor; Luo, Bing; Gu, Zhengrong
• Is Part Of: Energy. Volume 94(2016)
• Page Start: 666
• Page End: 671
• Publication Date: 2016-01-01
• Subjects: Cyanobacteria -- Pyrolysis -- Supercapacitor; Power resources -- Periodicals; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy consumption -- Periodicals; 333.7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2015.10.047
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-5442

Abstract

Abstract: Cyanobacteria, as a renewable source of carbon, was used to prepare activated carbon electrodes in supercapacitors. The activation includes a pre-carbonization at 400 °C followed by KOH heat treatment at 800 °C, leading to efficient and high degree of graphitization. The activated carbon electrode consisted primarily of carbon and oxygen, and possessed a large specific surface area of 2184 m 2 g −1, with pore size centered at 27 nm. In 6 mol L −1 KOH electrolyte, the electrode exhibited superior specific capacitance of 271 F g −1 and 222 F g −1 at a charge/discharge current density of 0.1 A g −1 and 5.0 A g −1, respectively. The results demonstrated that the activated carbon derived from cyanobacteria can serve as promising electrode material for electrical double-layer capacitors. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Demonstrate that cyanobacteria is promising precursor for supercapacitor electrodes. The activated carbon was obtained by chemical pyrolysis. The activated carbon had a large surface area of 2184 m 2 g −1 . The activated carbon exhibited a high specific capacitance of 271 F g −1 and excellent stability.