Can Aqueous Na2SO4-Based Neutral Electrolyte Increase Energy Density of Monolithic Wood Biochar Electrode Supercapacitor?

Abstract

The performance of supercapacitors is significantly influenced by both the nature and the concentration of the electrolyte employed. This study investigates the impact of a neutral electrolyte on the electrochemical properties of the maple-derived monolithic wood biochar (MWB)–sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) supercapacitor. The goal is to determine if a neutral electrolyte, in this case Na2SO4, can increase the supercapacitor energy density compared to a previous study employing a KOH electrolyte. Starting from examining the ion sizes and conductivities of salt species in KOH and Na2SO4 electrolytes, the difference in voltage window, measured specific capacitance, and resistance are discussed. By switching the electrolyte from 4 M KOH to 0.5/1 M Na2SO4, the voltage stability window was extended from 0.8 V to 1.4 V. For 1 M Na2SO4, the supercapacitor attains a specific capacitance of 46 F/g at 5 mA/g, accompanied by an energy density of 12.5 Wh/kg and a maximum power density of 300 W/kg. The MWB electrode, derived from naturally abundant wood, when combined with the non-toxic Na2SO4 electrolyte, offers an environmentally friendly and cost-effective energy storage solution. With a prolonged lifetime and minimal maintenance requirements, MWB-Na2SO4 supercapacitors emerge as a promising choice for diverse applications.