Water hyacinth-poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene) composite as a facile electrode for supercapacitor application

Abstract

Water hyacinth, recognized as Eichhornia crassipes, (WH) is a notorious aquatic weed proliferating in many global water bodies. Despite its invasive nature, it has potential beneficial applications. Researchers have previously employed hyacinth as an absorber for contaminants like heavy metals. In this investigation, water hyacinth biomass undergoes acid treatment, and carbonization through pyrolysis, and is subsequently integrated with PEDOT(Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)) using an in-situ chemical polymerization technique. This process notably boosts the specific capacitance of the resulting composite, outperforming pure PEDOT and biochar. Comprehensive characterization techniques, including SEM, FTIR, XRD, and Raman analysis, were employed. Upon electrochemical examination in a 3 M KOH solution, the composite electrode displayed an impressive specific capacitance of 490 Fg−1. Moreover, it maintained 92% of this initial capacitance after undergoing 2000 cycles at 1 A/g, highlighting its strong potential for use in supercapacitor applications.