ACTIVATED CARBON ELECTRODES FROM SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES FOR ECONOMICAL SODIUM SULFUR BATTERIES

Abstract

The aim of this study is to attain sustainability and meet the increasing energy demands of the society. Sources of required materials for these batteries are cheaply and abundantly available in Pakistan. This project has led to development of one of these materials which is “activated carbon” that can be used as an anode material. This activated carbon is achieved using the hybrid methodology resulting in an optimum route with milder conditions. Activated carbon is an ideal material as anode of these batteries because it stores charge at millivolt ranges which is close to ideal as anode must store charge at minimal voltage to gives a highly efficient battery. As a result, these batteries would have a high storage capacity, high energy density, wide temperature operate ability and would be low cost. This development would further lead to electrification of off grid population of Pakistan and reliable energy resource for on grid population. Moreover, due to the sustainability factor, adverse environmental effects of coal fired thermal energy plants would reduce as well as burning of agricultural wastes in open fields resulting in dangerous smog and direct fuel combustion would decrease.