Electrochemical performance of KOH-activated lotus seedpods carbon

Abstract

Lotus seedpods (LS) were subsequently carbonized and chemically activation using KOH. The obtained products (AC-LS) were investigated for their potential as efficient electrode materials of high-performance energy storage devices. Experimental results revealed that the optimal and most effective ratio for achieving a sample with high specific surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, and electrochemical performance was 1:3. This sample exhibited a specific surface area up to 1,369.7 m2/g and a high specific capacitance of 169.7 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g. Additionally, it demonstrated excellent long-term operational stability, retaining up to 98.88 % of its initial capacitance after 10,000 charge–discharge cycles at high current density of 10 A/g. Moreover, a fabricated electrochemical prototype cell using AC-LS (1:3) as the electrode material in a 6 M KOH electrolyte illustrated the feasibility of practical applications by successfully powering a 3 V LED light for more than 1,800 s.