Abstract
Activated carbon obtained from biomass wastes was presently studied in order to evaluate its applicability in an energy storage device. Biochar was obtained by the carbonization of spent malt rootlets and was further processed by mild treatment in NaOH. The final product had a specific surface of 362 m2 g−1 and carried Na, P and a few mineral sites. This material was first characterized by several techniques. Then it was used to make a supercapacitor electrode, which reached a specific capacitance of 156 F g−1. The supercapacitor electrode was combined with a photocatalytic fuel cell, making a simple three-electrode device functioning with a single alkaline electrolyte. This device allows solar energy conversion and storage at the same time, promoting the use of biomass wastes for energy applications.
Highlights
Porous carbon obtained by the carbonization of biomass is known as “biochar.” Biochar is produced by the pyrolysis of a biomass under an inert atmosphere and it can be further processed by several techniques that increase its porosity and improve its functionality [1]
In this work we have studied the application of biochar from spent malt rootlets
This work has shown that a supercapacitor electrode can be made by using spent malt rootlets biochar and can be combined with a photocatalytic fuel cell to make a solar energy conversion and storage device
Summary
Biochar has been used as an absorber to retain harmful contaminants [5], as a catalyst in the transesterification of lipids for biodiesel production [6], as catalyst support in various processes [7,8,9], as an activator of persulfates in advanced oxidation processes [10], as a platform for sensing applications [11] and as supercapacitor for energy storage [1] These interesting and high-value applications are related to and depend on biochar composition and structural characteristics. In this respect, and as a function of biomass origin and post-pyrolysis treatment, biochar may carry a significant amount of minerals while oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur are chemical agents found in biochar and are responsible for its properties [1]. This broad basis of factors affecting biochar properties increases its popularity and introduces resourceful ideas concerning biomass origin and biochar production processes [12,13,14,15,16,17,18]
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