Optimized Synthesis and Characterization of Spirogyra Derived Activated Carbon for High Performance Supercapacitors /

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