Activated Carbons (AC) Prepared by Direct CO2 Activation of Parsea Americana seeds Biomass for Supercapacitor Electrodes

Abstract

Biomass converted into activated carbon (AC) by using physical activation method can form micro-meso pore structure and maintain the interconnected natural pore network of biomass. AC is prepared from the biomass of Parsea Americana seeds (PAS) through a process of pre-carbonization, chemical activation, carbonization and physical activation which is activated at temperatures of 700°C, 800°C, and 900°C. Characterization of physical properties of AC electrodes consisted of X-ray diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-ray and characterization of electrochemical properties of supercapacitor cells using Cyclic Voltametry. The results showed that the microstructure of the AC electrode has a semicrystalline structure characterized by the presence of two sloping peaks at an angle of 2θ around 24° and 44° which corresponded to the hkl (002) and (100) planes, where the lowest Lc value was produced by the PAS-900 sample. The PAS-900 sample had aggregates or lumps with smaller size in small amounts in the presence of micro-mesopores and had the highest carbon content of 94.50% with the highest capacitance value of 203.12 F/g. The temperature of 900°C is the best activation temperature in the process of manufacture AC electrodes from Parsea Americana seeds biomass for supercapacitor cell applications.