Abstract:
This study describes the synthesis of Spirogyra-derived activated carbon via two key steps of
carbonization and activation at optimized temperature using KOH as an activation agent, as
well as its application in supercapacitors. Spirogyra algae were dried crushed and then
carbonized at 450 °C under inert gas environment in a pyrolysis unit followed by activation
through KOH at 750 °C in a tube furnace under inert gas environment. Surface structure and
morphology of activated carbon were examined using SEM, TGA, XRD, FTIR, Raman
spectroscopy, and BET surface area. Specific surface area of Spy-AC-750 calculated was
727.765 m2
g
-1 with a total pore volume of 0.317 cm3
g
-1
. CV, GCD, and EIS were conducted
to study the electrochemical behavior of the Spy-AC-750 after the coating of synthesized
activated carbon on Nickel foam to prepare an electrode. The prepared electrode attained a
specific capacitance of 210 Fg-1
at a scan rate of 0.5g-1
.These results are the key factors for
considering Spy-AC-750 as a good electrode material for energy storage devices. However
the low carbon content is the key discouraging aspect of Spirogyra algae to use it as a
precursor for the synthesis of activated carbon
