Synthesis of activated carbon from biomass waste and study of its suitability for applications in electrochemical

Abstract

The increasing demand for sustainable electrode materials across various fields has led to significant interest in biomass-derived activated carbon (BDAC) as a renewable, low-cost, and high-performance alternative to conventional carbon materials. This study investigates the preparation methods, material properties, and electrochemical performance of BDAC, providing insights into its suitability for electrochemical applications such as supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), and non-enzymatic electrochemical sensors. Different biomass waste materials were used as precursors to create BDAC with desirable characteristics. The physicochemical characterisation of the synthesised BDAC materials reveals unique structural features, including a large surface area and well-defined pore size distribution. BDAC electrodes used in supercapacitors demonstrate excellent electrochemical performance, exhibiting a high specific capacitance and impressive cycling stability. Furthermore, these materials show superior energy and power densities compared to commercial activated carbons. BDAC-based anodes demonstrate promising lithium storage capabilities, achieving high reversible capacity and exhibiting good cycling stability over 200 cycles. The performance of LIBs is further analysed, focusing on the formation of a solid electrolyte interface and its influence on the irreversible capacity fading associated with it. The rate performance and long-term cycling behaviour of these anodes are compared to previously reported BDAC materials. Additionally, a BDAC- nickel oxide composite material is utilised for the detection of urea through a non- enzymatic electrochemical sensing approach. These sensors show a high sensitivity, low detection limits, and excellent selectivity in the presence of interfering substances. The electrocatalytic activity is attributed to the synergistic effects arising from a high surface area and abundant active sites. The study also investigates the potential of this material for urea sensing applications in real-world samples. These findings underscore the versatility and potential of BDAC as a sustainable electrode material for energy storage and sensing applications. Furthermore, the research offers a green and scalable solution for future energy and sensing technologies.