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Surface and porous characterization of activated carbon prepared from pyrolysis of biomass (rice straw) by two-stage procedure and its applications in supercapacitor electrodes

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Abstract

In this study, we used a two-stage process and phosphoric acid to thermochemically transform waste biomass rice straw into porous carbon (PC) for the preparation of high-performance supercapacitor electrodes. The morphological and chemical characteristics of PC were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, surface area, and porosity analyses by the BET (Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller) nitrogen adsorption method, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The modification process leads to the increase in the specific surface area and pore size of PC. The dc conductivity of the samples determined at room temperature was found to increase from 16.1 × 10−5 to 10.16 × 10−3 Ω−1 cm−1. The samples showed good electrochemical property with specific capacitance possessing in the range of 56–112 F/g. It was found that the carbonization temperature plays a crucial role on the evolution of structural and electrochemical properties of porous carbons. These porous carbons which show a particular large reversible capacity are proved to be promising electrode materials for high-rate and high-performance supercapacitors.

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Acknowledgments

The corresponding author duly acknowledge the financial support rendered by SERC Division, Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi, India, through the young scientist project scheme vide reference no. SR/FTP/PS-76/2005.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Catalysis and Nanomaterials Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Loyola College, Chennai, 600 034, India

    T. Adinaveen & J. Judith Vijaya

  2. Materials Division, School of Advanced Sciences, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) University, Chennai Campus, Chennai, 600 127, India

    L. John Kennedy

  3. Central Leather Research Institute Adyar, Chennai, 600 020, India

    G. Sekaran

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  1. T. Adinaveen
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  2. L. John Kennedy
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  3. J. Judith Vijaya
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  4. G. Sekaran
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Correspondence to L. John Kennedy.

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Adinaveen, T., John Kennedy, L., Judith Vijaya, J. et al. Surface and porous characterization of activated carbon prepared from pyrolysis of biomass (rice straw) by two-stage procedure and its applications in supercapacitor electrodes. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 17, 736–747 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-014-0302-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-014-0302-6

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