Boosting specific capacitance: Harnessing redox-additive electrolytes for enhanced performance in activated porous carbon derived from palmyra palm leaves

• Published in: Chemical physics letters Vol. 843; p. 141238
• Main Authors: Ramakrishnan, Aswini, Swaminathan, Sindhu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 16.05.2024
• Subjects: Carbon materials; Energy storage and conversion; Porous materials; Supercapacitor; Supercapacitor; Carbon materials; Porous materials; Energy storage and conversion
• ISSN: 0009-2614; 1873-4448
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2024.141238

[Display omitted] •Leaf source converted to activated carbon by ZnCl2 activation.•Porous carbon with network structure has a high specific surface area of 1300 m2/g.•High surface area and tuned porosity maximize ion diffusion.•The addition of redox additive in the electrolyte boosts specific capacitance with impressive cyclic stability. Carbon materials derived from palmyra palm leaves and chemically activated with ZnCl2 exhibit remarkable energy storage characteristics. Carbon derived from leaves has a specific surface area of 1300 m2/g and provides extensive electrochemical interfaces. The leaf-derived carbon initially displays a specific capacitance of 75.60F/g at 5 mV/s in 0.1 M Na2SO4 electrolyte. Specific capacitance is significantly improved by introducing a redox additive into the parent electrolyte. In a potential window of 1 V, the combination of 0.1 M Na2SO4 and 0.03 M KI yields a specific capacitance of 173.04F/g at 5 mV/s. The findings highlight the exceptional performance and higher stability of leaf-derived activated carbon.