Stable Supercapacitors Based on Activated Carbon Prepared from Italian Orange Juice
The development of efficient energy storage systems is critical in the transition towards sustainable energy solutions. In this context, the present work investigates the viability of using orange juice, as a promising and sustainable precursor, for the synthesis of activated carbon electrodes for s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/14/1/71 |
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| author | Andrea Scarcello Francesca Alessandro Yolenny Cruz Salazar Melvin Arias Polanco Cristian Vacacela Gomez Talia Tene Marco Guevara Stefano Bellucci Salvatore Straface Lorenzo S. Caputi |
| author_facet | Andrea Scarcello Francesca Alessandro Yolenny Cruz Salazar Melvin Arias Polanco Cristian Vacacela Gomez Talia Tene Marco Guevara Stefano Bellucci Salvatore Straface Lorenzo S. Caputi |
| author_sort | Andrea Scarcello |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The development of efficient energy storage systems is critical in the transition towards sustainable energy solutions. In this context, the present work investigates the viability of using orange juice, as a promising and sustainable precursor, for the synthesis of activated carbon electrodes for supercapacitor technologies. Through the carbonization-activation process and controlling the preparation parameters (KOH ratio and activation time), we have tailored the specific surface area (SSA) and pore size distribution (PSD) of the resulting carbon materials—crucial parameters that support supercapacitive performance. Several spectroscopic, morphological, and electrochemical techniques are used to characterize the obtained carbon materials. In particular, our optimization efforts revealed that a 5:1 KOH ratio with an activation time up to 120 min produced the highest SSA of about 2203 m<sup>2</sup>/g. Employing these optimal conditions, we fabricated symmetric coin cell supercapacitors using Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> as the electrolyte, which exhibited interesting specific capacitance (~56 F/g). Durability testing over 5000 cycles sustained the durability of the as-made activated carbon electrodes, suggesting an excellent retention of specific capacitance. This study not only advances the field of energy storage by introducing a renewable material for electrode fabrication but also contributes to the broader goal of waste reduction through the repurposing of food byproducts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:00:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-33bc7daf78d6468cae39bb49e7cba2fb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:00:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-33bc7daf78d6468cae39bb49e7cba2fb2024-01-10T15:04:58ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912023-12-011417110.3390/nano14010071Stable Supercapacitors Based on Activated Carbon Prepared from Italian Orange JuiceAndrea Scarcello0Francesca Alessandro1Yolenny Cruz Salazar2Melvin Arias Polanco3Cristian Vacacela Gomez4Talia Tene5Marco Guevara6Stefano Bellucci7Salvatore Straface8Lorenzo S. Caputi9Surface Nanoscience Group, Department of Physics, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, ItalyInstitute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-ITM), Via P. Bucci 17/C, 87036 Rende, ItalySurface Nanoscience Group, Department of Physics, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, ItalyUNICARIBE Research Center, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, ItalyUNICARIBE Research Center, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, ItalyUNICARIBE Research Center, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, ItalyFaculty of Mechanical Engineering, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Riobamba 060155, EcuadorINFN-Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, 00044 Frascati, ItalyDepartment of Environmental Engineering (DIAm), University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, Cubo 42B, 87036 Rende, ItalySurface Nanoscience Group, Department of Physics, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, ItalyThe development of efficient energy storage systems is critical in the transition towards sustainable energy solutions. In this context, the present work investigates the viability of using orange juice, as a promising and sustainable precursor, for the synthesis of activated carbon electrodes for supercapacitor technologies. Through the carbonization-activation process and controlling the preparation parameters (KOH ratio and activation time), we have tailored the specific surface area (SSA) and pore size distribution (PSD) of the resulting carbon materials—crucial parameters that support supercapacitive performance. Several spectroscopic, morphological, and electrochemical techniques are used to characterize the obtained carbon materials. In particular, our optimization efforts revealed that a 5:1 KOH ratio with an activation time up to 120 min produced the highest SSA of about 2203 m<sup>2</sup>/g. Employing these optimal conditions, we fabricated symmetric coin cell supercapacitors using Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> as the electrolyte, which exhibited interesting specific capacitance (~56 F/g). Durability testing over 5000 cycles sustained the durability of the as-made activated carbon electrodes, suggesting an excellent retention of specific capacitance. This study not only advances the field of energy storage by introducing a renewable material for electrode fabrication but also contributes to the broader goal of waste reduction through the repurposing of food byproducts.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/14/1/71orange juiceactivated carbonsupercapacitorelectrodesrenewable materials |
| spellingShingle | Andrea Scarcello Francesca Alessandro Yolenny Cruz Salazar Melvin Arias Polanco Cristian Vacacela Gomez Talia Tene Marco Guevara Stefano Bellucci Salvatore Straface Lorenzo S. Caputi Stable Supercapacitors Based on Activated Carbon Prepared from Italian Orange Juice Nanomaterials orange juice activated carbon supercapacitor electrodes renewable materials |
| title | Stable Supercapacitors Based on Activated Carbon Prepared from Italian Orange Juice |
| title_full | Stable Supercapacitors Based on Activated Carbon Prepared from Italian Orange Juice |
| title_fullStr | Stable Supercapacitors Based on Activated Carbon Prepared from Italian Orange Juice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stable Supercapacitors Based on Activated Carbon Prepared from Italian Orange Juice |
| title_short | Stable Supercapacitors Based on Activated Carbon Prepared from Italian Orange Juice |
| title_sort | stable supercapacitors based on activated carbon prepared from italian orange juice |
| topic | orange juice activated carbon supercapacitor electrodes renewable materials |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/14/1/71 |
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