Green synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon nanograss for supercapacitors

Publication date: Available online 13 July 2019Source: Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical EngineersAuthor(s): Raji Atchudan, Thomas Nesakumar Jebakumar Immanuel Edison, Suguna Perumal, Periyasamy Thirukumaran, Rajangam Vinodh, Yong Rok LeeAbstractIn the present study, a novel N-doped carbon nanograss (NCNG) were synthesized from the used baby-diaper absorbent via carbonization under the argon atmosphere and has been applied as an electroactive material for flexible supercapacitor. The synthesized NCNG display a grass-like morphology with an acceptable degree of graphitization. The surface areas and average pore size of NCNG were 183 m2 g−1 and 3.3 nm, respectively. On the basis of good structural ordering with reasonable surface area, the NCNG was coated on a carbon cloth and studied their electrochemical performance toward the supercapacitors. The obtained quasi-rectangular shaped cyclic voltammetry curves indicate good capacitive behavior of the NCNG. The galvanostatic charge-discharge experimental results showed that the specific capacitance of NCNG was 81 F g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1 with capacitance retention of 95% after 10,000 cycles of charge-discharge. The slow decrements of specific capacitance with the increment of current density indicate superior rate capability of synthesized NCNG. These excellent electrochemical performances of the synthesized NCNG from used (waste) baby-diaper extend their potential applications in vario...
Source: Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers - Category: Chemistry Source Type: research