Large-scale Energy Storage Research Articles

Nonflammable localized high-concentration deep eutectic electrolytes for safe and stable rechargeable aluminum batteries

Rechargeable aluminum batteries (RABs) are regarded as a promising next-generation energy storage system due to the high theoretical capacity, good safety, low cost, and abundant resources of aluminum. However, the practical development of RABs is impeded by the commonly used AlCl3-based electrolytes, which exhibit strong corrosion, high cost, and extreme sensitivity to air. Herein, we propose a novel deep eutectic electrolyte composed of hydrated aluminum perchlorate, N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) ligand, and 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropylether (TFE) diluent (named as ADT45) for low-cost, intrinsically safe, and stable RABs. Various spectroscopic analyses combined with theoretical calculations reveal that TFE establishes a localized high-concentration environment in the electrolyte, which can not only boost ionic conductivity but also suppress side reactions through forming an AlF3-rich solid electrolyte interface layer. Evaluation of Al||Al symmetric cells and CuHCF||Al full cells demonstrates the ADT45 electrolyte can accelerate reaction kinetics and enhance cycling stability. Furthermore, the energy storage mechanism of the RAB with ADT45 is revealed through various in-situ and ex-situ characterizations. This study presents a novel approach for developing cost-effective and safe electrolytes for RABs for large-scale energy storage.

Electrolyte Additive l-Lysine Stabilizes the Zinc Electrode in Aqueous Zinc Batteries for Long Cycling Performance.

Rechargeable aqueous Zn-ion batteries (AZIBs) have been recognized as competitive devices for large-scale energy storage due to their characteristics of low cost, safe operation, and environmental friendliness. Nevertheless, their practical applications are greatly limited by zinc dendrite growth and side reactions occurring at the anode/electrolyte interface. Herein, we propose an effective and simple electrolyte engineering strategy, which is the introduction of l-lysine additive containing two amino groups and one carboxyl group into a ZnSO4 electrolyte to achieve stable and reversible Zn depositions. Theoretical calculations and experimental results reveal that the l-lysine can adsorb on the Zn anode surface due to the strong coordination effects between amino groups and Zn metal (Zn-N binding) and induce the reduction of ZnSO4 into inorganic ZnS, which can not only prevent interfacial side reactions but also regulate interfacial electric field on the zinc electrode surface to guide uniform Zn2+ electrodeposition to inhibit zinc dendrites. Consequently, the l-lysine additive in the electrolyte enables Zn||Zn symmetric cells to achieve an ultralong stable cycling up to 2400 h at 1 mA cm-2 with a low polarization of only about 16 mV and Zn||Cu asymmetric cells to obtain a high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.80% after stably cycling for more than 2000 h at 2 mA cm-2 (1 mAh cm-2). In addition, the Zn||MnO2@CNT full cell in an l-lysine-containing electrolyte also exhibits good cycling performance. This study offers a new perspective on multifunctional electrolyte additive for achieving highly reversible Zn metal anodes in AZIBs.

Efficient structural and compositional modulation of vanadium oxides for high-areal-capacity zinc-ion batteries

Although rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (RAZIBs) have been revitalized as competitive candidates for large-scale energy storage, the development of this technology is stalled by the underutilization of cathode materials due to sluggish reaction kinetics, resulting in low areal capacities that cannot meet the practical requirements. Herein, this study reveals a simple, efficient, and low-energy synthetic route to effectively convert relatively inactive α-V2O5 (131 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1) into highly active MxV8O20·nH2O (MVO, M = Li, Na, and K) by liquid-phase dissolution-recrystallization reaction and chemical preintercalation under low-temperature conditions. Particularly, NaVO presents the most expansive diffusion channel, the highest specific surface area, and the smallest band gap, allowing faster electron/ion transport kinetics and better material utilization. With these features, NaVO accommodates electrolyte Zn2+ and H+ with good reversibility, showing high capacity (383 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1) and rate-performance (207 mAh g−1 at 8 A g−1). More importantly, high-areal-capacity of 3.2 mAh cm−2 and remarkable cycle stability over 1500 cycles can be achieved from free-standing high-mass-loading electrode (∼14 mg cm−2) made of NaVO and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). This work enriches the synthetic methods for obtaining high-performance vanadium-based host materials with practical areal capacity and cycle stability.

Interfacial local activation strategy tailoring selective zinc deposition pattern for stable zinc anodes

"Tip effect" triggered by uneven zinc deposition accelerates the growth of Zn dendrites. The unfavorable interfacial activity gradient aggravates zinc deposition at the tips, which is the root cause of zinc dendrites. This study reports an interfacial local activation strategy to reconfigure the interfacial activity gradient of zinc anode to promote more stable operation of zinc batteries. A locally activated zinc anode (Zn-ILA) is proposed as the proof-of-concept zinc anode by constructing high-active microchannels to induce preferential zinc deposition, while the remaining low-active region is accompanied by zinc epitaxial growth, thus achieving bottom-up zinc deposition at the anode interface. A fabrication method based on nanosecond pulsed laser is used to modify the zinc anode by creating high-active microchannels through thermal impingement. Additionally, low-active regions covered by dense ZnO nanoparticles are also formed due to the plasma effect. The laser-induced cross-scale oxide layers help improve the corrosion resistance at the full zinc anode interface. The proposed interfacial local activation strategy enables ordered selective deposition at the Zn-ILA interface owing to the activity gradient, as well as stabilizes the long-term operation of symmetric and full cells. The effectiveness of Zn-ILA is also validated in large-area pouch batteries, showing great potential for large-scale energy storage systems.

Stabilizing zinc anodes for dual-membrane Zn-Ce redox flow battery via constructing zincophilic protective layer

The development of large-scale grid storage systems has increased interest in redox flow batteries due to their flexible design characteristics, which can help overcome the intermittency of renewable energy. Zn-Ce redox flow battery is considered as one of the most promising redox flow batteries due to its high voltage and low cost. However, using Zn metal anodes in this context remains problematic due to issues with corrosion and dendrite growth, as well as electrolyte incompatibility, which limits their cycling performance and practical application. Herein, an indium-based protective layer is constructed on the Zn anode cooperating with a dual-membrane cell configuration to solve these problems. Due to its unique physical and chemical properties, the zincophilic indium protective layer can effectively prevent electrolyte corrosion as well as regulate the behavior of Zn plating and stripping. Moreover, a dual-membrane cell configuration is used to mitigate electrolyte incompatibility since it uses specified ions as charge carriers and blocks the infamous H+ poisoning on the zinc side. The cell exhibits a high discharge voltage plateau of 2.2 V at 20 mA cm−2 and maintains a high average energy efficiency of 84.39 % over 80 cycles. This work presents a practical method to enhance the cycling performance of the Zn-Ce battery by incorporating an In-based protective layer with a dual-membrane cell configuration, resulting in unparalleled efficiency and stability.

A Self-Constructed Mg2+/K+ Co-Doped Prussian Blue with Superior Cycling Stability Enabled by Enhanced Coulombic Attraction.

Prussian blue (PB) is regarded as a promising cathode for sodium-ion batteries because of its sustainable precursor elements (e.g., Mn, Fe), easy preparation, and unique framework structure. However, the unstable structure and inherent crystal H2O restrain its practical application. For this purpose, a self-constructed trace Mg2+/K+ co-doped PB prepared via a sea-water-mediated method is proposed to address this problem. The Mg2+/K+ co-doping in the Na sites of PB is permitted by both thermodynamics and kinetics factors when synthesized in sea water. The results reveal that the introduced Mg2+ and K+ are immovable in the PB lattices and can form stronger K‒N and Mg‒N Coulombic attraction to relieve phase transition and element dissolution. Besides, the Mg2+/K+ co-doping can reduce defect and H2O contents. As a result, the PB prepared in sea water exhibits an extremely long cycle life (80.1% retention after 2400 cycles) and superior rate capability (90.4% capacity retention at 20 C relative to that at 0.1 C). To address its practical applications, a sodium salts recycling strategy is proposed to greatly reduce the PB production cost. This work provides a self-constructed Mg2+/K+ co-doped high-performance PB at a low preparation cost for sustainable, large-scale energy storage.

Developmental Trajectories of Electric Vehicle Research in a Circular Economy: Main Path Analysis

This study explored the development history and future trends of academic research on electric vehicles (EVs) in a circular economy. We collected 4127 articles on circular economy and EVs from the Web of Science database, and main path analysis indicated that academic research in the field of EVs in a circular economy has covered the following topics in chronological order: EVs as a power resource; vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology; renewable energy and energy storage grids; smart grid and charging station optimization; and sustainable development of energy, water, and environmental systems. Through cluster analysis and data mining, we identified the following main research topics in the aforementioned field: recycling and reuse of EV batteries, charging stations and energy management, V2G systems and renewable energy, power frequency control systems, dynamic economic emissions, and energy management. Finally, data mining and statistical analysis revealed the following emerging research topics in this field from 2020 to 2023: microgrids, deep learning, loop supply chain, blockchain, and automatic generation control. Various achievements have been attained in research on EVs in a circular economy; however, challenges related to aspects such as sustainable battery recycling charging infrastructure and renewable energy integration remain.

Success in construction management of dams: an empirical study

The current body of research lacks adequate investigation of project success, especially for dam construction projects. Despite the considerable body of research in the field of project management, an empirical examination of the performance of dam projects, which carry substantial economic, social, and environmental impacts, is still lacking. This research attempts to fill the gap by conducting a survey among construction professionals who have experience with dams. Alongside the continuing construction projects to augment and upgrade existing dams, there is currently an unprecedented surge in the number of new dams planned or under construction. This is driven by the energy transition towards achieving net zero targets, with a focus on pumped-hydro schemes as an efficient form of large-scale energy storage. Exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) are applied to explore critical success factors (CSFs) and success criteria (SC) and their relationships. This paper offers valuable recommendations for professionals to improve project performance and adds to the limited literature on dam construction project success. Construction professionals can optimize their efforts by strategically implementing the project elements presented in this research. This ultimately leads to improved project outcomes, increased efficiency, and lower costs.

Pb-MOF derived lead‑carbon composites for superior lead‑carbon battery

Lead‑carbon batteries (LCBs) provide considerable potential for large-scale energy storage, whereas exploring porous carbon negative additives with excellent mitigation of sulphation and parasitic hydrogen evolution remains challenging. Herein, lead‑carbon composite (PM@Cx) was prepared from simple pyrolysis of the electro-synthesized Pb-MOF precursor with waste lead paste as sacrificial anode for enhancing the performance of LCBs. The innovative transformation of waste lead paste into Pb-MOF enabled the uniform distribution of Pb atoms in the composite material and the in-situ generation of PbC heterojunction after pyrolysis. Benefitting from the presence of Pb nanoparticles and encapsulated structures, PM@Cx exhibits excellent inhibition of hydrogen evolution and increased affinity for carbon with active materials. Owing to the synergistic interaction of the above characteristics, the discharge capacity of the battery with PM@C500 reaches 3.75 Ah at 0.1C, which is 26.7 % enhancement compared to the control (2.96 Ah). The cycling lifespan is 6377 cycles at HRPSoC operating condition, 3 times of the control. This study provides innovative insights into the recycling of waste lead paste and the design of lead‑carbon composites for LCBs to inhibit negative sulphation and hydrogen evolution.

Dual carbon confining SnO2 nanocrystals as high-performance anode for sodium-ion batteries

The increasing global demand for sustainable energy sources has driven research into sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) for large-scale energy storage. However, their electrochemical performance is hindered by poor reaction kinetics and significant volume expansion in electrode materials. In this work, we developed a dual-carbon-confined SnO2 nanocrystal anode (CNTs@SnO2@NC) designed for high-performance SIBs. This innovative structure uses carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and a nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) coating to stabilize SnO2, ensuring structural integrity during charge/discharge cycles. The CNTs network in CNTs@SnO2@NC can alleviate the agglomeration of SnO2 nanocrystals to a certain extent; With its superior electronic conductivity, CNTs can enhance the anode's conductivity and function as an electronic highway; The sodiophilic properties and good electrical conductivity of CNTs enable sodium ions to migrate rapidly on the surface of the nanotubes. Moreover, numerous external defects and active sites generated by nitrogen doping enhance the sodium ion absorption capabilities; The existence of nitrogen-doped carbon coating can effectively accommodate the volume changes of SnO2 and enhance the structural stability of CNTs@SnO2@NC composites during the repeated charge and discharge cycles. As a result, the CNTs@SnO2@NC composite demonstrates excellent electrochemical performance, achieving capacity of 235 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 over 100 cycles and 102 mAh g−1 at 1.0 A g−1 over 300 cycles. In a full-cell configuration with a Na3V2(PO4)3 cathode, it delivers 38 mAh g−1 at 100th cycle at 0.1 A g−1. This study underscores the substantial improvements achieved by dual-carbon confinement for high-performance SIB anodes, offering a promising direction for future anode material design.

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-Coated Vanadium-Doped MnO2 Nanorods for High-Performance Flexible Aqueous Zinc-Ion Battery Cathode.

Manganese-based aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are considered promising cathode materials for large-scale energy storage applications due to their low cost and high safety. However, the primary constraints on achieving high specific capacity and cycling stability are the inherent low conductivity and suboptimal structural stability of the AZIB cathodes. Herein, we report a high-performance poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)-coated vanadium-doped MnO2 nanorod (NR) electrode for AZIBs. First, vanadium-doped MnO2 (V-MnO2) NRs were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal synthesis method. The V-MnO2 NRs were further encapsulated with a nanolayer of PEDOT through an in situ polymerization process, which was subsequently treated with sulfuric acid to achieve a smooth surface. The V doping creates oxygen vacancies within the MnO2, allowing for the rapid embedding and diffusion of Zn2+. The PEDOT nanolayer greatly enhances the conductivity and structural stability of the V-MnO2. Benefiting from the unique features, an optimal composite NRs electrode exhibits a high specific capacity of 250 mAh g-1 at 0.4 A g-1, a high energy density (388 Wh kg-1 at 151 W kg-1), and excellent stability over 5000 cycles at 3 A g-1. In addition, the flexible pouch cell assembled with the electrode shows good stability under bending. Given the positive outcomes, the material holds great potential for use as a cathode in next-generation flexible energy storage systems.

Optimised Two-Layer Configuration of SESS-CCHP System Considering Wind and Light Output Correlation and Load Sensitivity

With the gradual depletion of fossil energy sources and the diversification of users’ energy demand, combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) microgrids have become a hot technology to improve energy efficiency and promote efficient and synergistic energy operation. However, the uncertainty and correlation of wind power and photovoltaic (PV) outputs have posed a great challenge to the reliability of CCHP system operation, so CCHP systems are often equipped with energy storage devices to improve system flexibility to ensure the reliability of energy supply. However, system-owned reserves still have shortcomings such as high investment O&M costs and large space requirements. As an emerging model, “shared energy storage” can reduce the investment pressure of users and open up new ways for the economic and stable operation of CCHP systems. Therefore, based on the scenario of wind and solar power correlation and considering different types of load flexibility, this paper proposes to construct a shared energy storage station (SESS)-CCHP double-layer synergistic optimal allocation model. The model incorporates the consideration of the actual operation strategy of the CCHP system in the planning stage of energy storage. An example analysis shows that SESS reduces the total operating cost of the CCHP system by 25.96% and improves the new energy consumption rate by 10.46% compared with no energy storage. Compared with the system independently configured with energy storage, the cost saving is 2.14%, thus validating the effectiveness of the proposed model.

Identifying the β-to-α phase transition during the long cycling process in Na2FePO4F cathode

Na2FePO4F has emerged as a promising cathode for large-scale electrochemical energy storage, primarily due to its abundance of raw materials and distinctive two-dimensional ion channels. Counterintuitively, pristine Na2FePO4F lacks the long-term stability typically seen in polyanionic cathodes, which severely impedes its practical application. Traditionally, the origin of this problem has been only phenomenologically attributed to the poor intrinsic electronic conductivity and structural instability of Na2FePO4F. Here, we identify that rapid capacity fading of Na2FePO4F is closely related to the β-to-α phase transition during the long cycling process. Furthermore, we develop a practical high-entropy doping strategy and the corresponding microstructure engineering to mitigate the impact of the phase transition on the crystal structure, thereby increasing the capacity retention from 56 % to 94 % over 400 cycles at 0.5C in coin cell, and attain almost 100 % capacity retention after 300 cycles at 0.1C in pouch cell. Overall, this work unveils the mechanism of rapid capacity decay in Na2FePO4F and lays the groundwork for the rational design of durable polyanionic electrodes.

Engineering of charge density at the anode/electrolyte interface for long-life Zn anode in aqueous zinc ion battery.

The aqueous zinc ion battery emerges as the promising candidate applied in large-scale energy storage system. However, Zn anode suffers from the issues including Zn dendrite, Hydrogen evolution reaction and corrosion. These challenges are primarily derived from the instability of anode/electrolyte interface, which is associated with the interfacial charge density distribution. In this context, the recent advancements concentrating on the strategies and mechanism to regulate charge density at the Zn anode/electrolyte interface are summarized. Different characterization techniques for charge density distribution have been analysed, which can be applied to assess the interfacial zinc ion transport. Additionally, the charge density regulations at the Zn anode/electrolyte interface are discussed, elucidating their roles in modulating electrostatic interactions, electric field, structure of solvated zinc ion and electric double layer, respectively. Finally, the perspectives and challenges on the further research are provided to establish the stable anode/electrolyte interface by focusing on charge density modifications, which is expected to facilitate the development of aqueous zinc ion battery.

Bismuth Single Atoms Regulated Graphite Felt Electrode Boosting High Power Density Vanadium Flow Batteries.

Vanadium flow batteries (VFBs) are considered one of the most promising candidates for large-scale energy storage. However, VFBs suffer from relatively low power density due to severe electrochemical polarization. Herein, we report Bi single atoms supported by an N-doped carbon-regulated graphite felt electrode (Bi SAs/NC@GF) with high electrocatalytic activity and stability, owing to the greatly improved active sites and optimized Bi-N4 configuration. Electrochemical in situ characterization and theoretical calculations elucidate the desolvation process and specific inner sphere reaction mechanism of [V(H2O)6]3+/[V(H2O)6]2+. As a result, a VFB single cell assembled with Bi SAs/NC@GF achieves a much higher energy efficiency of 81.1% at 240 mA cm-2 than NC@GF (70.5%). Moreover, a 5 kW VFB stack equipped with Bi SAs/NC@GF is assembled for the first time and ran stably for over 400 cycles. This work confirms that a single-atom catalyst is efficient for scalable VFBs with high power density and low cost.

Life-cycle environmental impacts of reused batteries of electric vehicles in buildings considering battery uncertainty

Advancements in various technologies have made it possible to recycle end-of-life batteries from electric vehicles (EV) into a stationary energy storage system (ESS) within residential buildings. As a result, promoting a circular economy between buildings and means of transportation has emerged as a major concern. Therefore, this study aimed to quantitatively assess the environmental impacts (life -cycle carbon Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions) of ESS utilizing used batteries instead of new batteries from the life cycle perspective of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) considering the uncertainty in energy communities. To this end, a probabilistic life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed using a Monte Carlo simulation of the energy community of South Korea. The results of this study demonstrated that reusing batteries as ESS in buildings could further improve the overall environmental sustainability of the ESS compared to using new batteries. As a result, when reused batteries were utilized, annual carbon emissions decreased by 2.8 %–18.5 % according to battery usage purposes. More specifically, it was shown that battery reuse can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts. To more rationally evaluate life-cycle CO2 emissions from a resource circulation perspective, the usage purpose and efficiency of the battery should be considered during the entire battery life cycle (transportation and building sectors). These findings are expected to provide valuable insights to policymakers, industrial sectors, and research institutes related to battery reuse and to help guide the future of transportation and building sectors in a sustainable direction from a resource circulation perspective.

Efficient Electron Injection into Graphullerene Enables Reversible NaC2 Sodium Storage.

Sodium-ion batteries are emerging as promising alternatives to conventional lithium-based technology, offering solutions to challenges in large-scale grid storage. However, the capacity of conventional graphite-based anodes for storing Na-ions is inherently limited by suboptimal thermodynamic interactions and irreversible structural changes that occur in the anode during charge-discharge cycles. Herein, we present a computational design that explores the potential of graphullerene, a two-dimensional framework with interconnected fullerene moieties, for the reversible storage of Na-ions. A unique aspect of this design is the electron injection capacity into the graphullerene anode, reaching 15 electrons per fullerene moiety, which is the highest limit to date. This advancement enables large-scale Na-ion storage up to the stoichiometry of NaC2, exhibiting specific capacity of 551 mAhg-1 and averaged open circuit voltage of 0.18 V vs Na/Na+. In addition, the multilayered arrangement of stored Na-ions enhances the Na-ion diffusivity on the graphullerene surface, leading to rapid insertion and extraction kinetics. Thus, raising the electron injection limit offers a promising strategy to transform carbon-based anodes into suitable candidates for reversible Na-ion storage, without relying on artificial defect introduction or doping.

Electrochemical constructing versatile ZnAl-LDH artificial interface layer coated (002)-textured Zn for highly reversible zinc anodes

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs), renowned for their high safety, cost-effectiveness, and high energy density, are regarded as an alternative for large-scale energy storage. However, persistent challenges remain in achieving highly reversible AZIBs, primarily centered around the notorious issues associated with the Zn anode. Here, a zincophilic Zn-Al layered double hydroxide (ZnAl-LDH) artificial interface layer coated highly (002)-textured Zn metal anode (SZ/LDH@Zn) with an integrated design are successively constructed by electrochemical methods. Comprehensive characterizations and theoretical calculations reveal that the preferred (002)-textured Zn couping with the zincophilic ZnAl-LDH coating layer not only can effectively regulate the interfacial electric field and Zn2+ flux distribution, guiding a uniform and horizontal Zn2+ deposition but also provide inherent Zn2+ diffusion channels, accelerating its interfacial transport kinetics. Moreover, the ZnAl-LDH layer with good chemical stability acted as a robust physical barrier, impeding direct contact between the electrolyte and Zn anode, thus curbing interfacial side reactions. As a result, the SZ/LDH@Zn||SZ/LDH@Zn symmetric cell delivers unprecedented cycling stability of 5500 h (about 230 days) at 1 mA cm−2, 1 mA h cm−2. The SZ/LDH@Zn||Cu asymmetric cell achieves superior reversibility with a high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.85 % over 3800 cycles. More significantly, the SZ/LDH@Zn||NaV3O8·xH2O full cell with a low N/P ratio (3.62) exhibits an impressive areal capacity of 5.36 mA h cm−2 and reliable operation over 1500 cycles. This work offers a facile and controllable electrochemical coupling strategy to build a highly stable Zn metal anode.

How sustainability can get a competitive advantage: State of the art for stationary battery storage systems

Stationary battery storage systems are becoming a critical energy infrastructure around the world. Therefore, responsible handling of battery materials is a fundamental precondition to avoid future social, environmental, and political conflicts. Global battery regulations support sustainable batteries to drive new business models on reuse, remanufacturing and recycling. With strict environmental market entry barriers, the EU will set minimum sustainability standards with the new EU-Battery Directive. The US Inflation Reduction Act provides financial incentives for a scale-up of the domestic battery industry. A hotspot analysis for the residential storage system VARTA.wall shows that a combination of reuse and recycling strategies can reduce the climate change impact by up to 45% and mineral resource use by up to 50% compared to initial battery designs. However, specific sustainability criteria and manufacturer-independent standards need to be set up by politics and industry organizations to bring the necessary technical and logistic infrastructure to the market. The challenge is to set up sustainability criteria strict enough to ensure responsible material handling but still allow cost-effective, practical solutions as well as affordable battery standards. Therefore, our analysis shows the limits of current and the need for future regulations to shift market incentives to sustainable batteries and their infrastructure.

Reutilization of Silver-Impregnated Activated Carbon (SAC) Cartridges with Surface Modification for Supercapacitor Electrodes for Large-Scale Energy-Storage Applications

The strategy of converting waste materials into new functional materials is a promising approach for energy-storage applications, particularly in the case of silver-impregnated activated carbon (SAC). SAC, which is typically derived from coconut shells, is primarily used for water purification in home-based filters due to its excellent antibacterial properties. However, the silver concentration is low, and it tends to leach out after a certain period, resulting in waste. To address this issue, SAC was used as a precursor for electrodes in supercapacitor applications. Additional surface treatments, such as heteroatom doping, are also being employed to improve the electrical conductivity and wettability of SAC. Nitrogen was introduced using urea as a precursor to enhance the properties of SAC. XRD analysis confirmed the structural analysis of activated carbon and nitrogen-activated carbon. Morphological analysis revealed the formation of micropores on the surface of the samples. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of functional groups in the samples. Raman spectra showed the presence of defects after the introduction of nitrogen atoms into the carbon lattice, with higher relative [Formula: see text] compared to AC. Multipoint bet analysis was conducted, and the surface area of the sample was found to be approximately 815[Formula: see text]m2g[Formula: see text], with pore sizes of 810[Formula: see text]m2g[Formula: see text]. Electrochemical analysis was carried out in both three- and two-electrode configurations. The specific capacitance of NAC in cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge–discharge analysis was found to be higher than that of AC because the nitrogen atoms reduced the ionic charge transfer resistance between the electrode and electrolyte surface. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was also conducted, confirming the solution resistance with 1.5[Formula: see text]Ohm.