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Scarcello A, Alessandro F, Cruz Salazar Y, Arias Polanco M, Vacacela Gomez C, Tene T, Guevara M, Bellucci S, Straface S, Caputi LS. Stable Supercapacitors Based on Activated Carbon Prepared from Italian Orange Juice. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 14:71. [PMID: 38202526 PMCID: PMC10780622 DOI: 10.3390/nano14010071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The development of efficient energy storage systems is critical in the transition towards sustainable energy solutions. In this context, the present work investigates the viability of using orange juice, as a promising and sustainable precursor, for the synthesis of activated carbon electrodes for supercapacitor technologies. Through the carbonization-activation process and controlling the preparation parameters (KOH ratio and activation time), we have tailored the specific surface area (SSA) and pore size distribution (PSD) of the resulting carbon materials-crucial parameters that support supercapacitive performance. Several spectroscopic, morphological, and electrochemical techniques are used to characterize the obtained carbon materials. In particular, our optimization efforts revealed that a 5:1 KOH ratio with an activation time up to 120 min produced the highest SSA of about 2203 m2/g. Employing these optimal conditions, we fabricated symmetric coin cell supercapacitors using Na2SO4 as the electrolyte, which exhibited interesting specific capacitance (~56 F/g). Durability testing over 5000 cycles sustained the durability of the as-made activated carbon electrodes, suggesting an excellent retention of specific capacitance. This study not only advances the field of energy storage by introducing a renewable material for electrode fabrication but also contributes to the broader goal of waste reduction through the repurposing of food byproducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Scarcello
- Surface Nanoscience Group, Department of Physics, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
- UNICARIBE Research Center, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Francesca Alessandro
- Institute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-ITM), Via P. Bucci 17/C, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Yolenny Cruz Salazar
- Surface Nanoscience Group, Department of Physics, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
- UNICARIBE Research Center, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Melvin Arias Polanco
- UNICARIBE Research Center, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
- Laboratorio de Nanotecnología, Area de Ciencias Básicas y Ambientales, Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo, Av. Los Próceres, Santo Domingo 10602, Dominican Republic
| | - Cristian Vacacela Gomez
- UNICARIBE Research Center, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
- INFN-Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, 00044 Frascati, Italy;
| | - Talia Tene
- UNICARIBE Research Center, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
- Department of Chemistry, Universidad Tecnica Particular de Loja, Loja 110160, Ecuador
| | - Marco Guevara
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Riobamba 060155, Ecuador
| | | | - Salvatore Straface
- Department of Environmental Engineering (DIAm), University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, Cubo 42B, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Lorenzo S. Caputi
- Surface Nanoscience Group, Department of Physics, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
- UNICARIBE Research Center, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
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