Solar-driven synthesis of CaS-decorated activated carbon from pecan nutshell agro-industrial waste to assemble green, stable, and electro-activated supercapacitors


Por: Soto-Díaz O., Lobato-Peralta D.R., Ayala-Cortés A., Villafán-Vidales H.I., Gamboa-Sanchez S.A., Collins-Martínez V.H., Román-Aguirre M., González-García G., Cuentas-Gallegos A.K., Ramos-Sánchez V.H.

Publicada: 1 ene 2025 Ahead of Print: 1 feb 2025
Resumen:
Developing efficient energy storage devices is crucial in a growing trend toward using electromobility and renewable energy sources. This study focuses on preparing environmentally friendly supercapacitors by synthesizing activated carbon decorated with semispherical CaS nanoparticles of approximately 30 nm in size. Pecan nutshells (Carya illinoinensis) were used as a carbon and calcium source, whereas (NH4)2SO3 was used both as a novel activating agent and a CaS precursor, enabling the formation of CaS-decorated activated carbons, as discussed in this work, for the first time. Activated carbon was prepared using a high-flux solar radiation furnace (SF) and a conventional tube furnace (TF). The synthesis temperature and concentration of the activating agent were determined using a factorial experimental design with central set points at 400, 600, and 800 °C and 1, 2, and 3 M. Physicochemical analysis revealed that temperature had a statistically significant effect on the surface area and degree of graphitization of the synthesized materials only when the TF method was used. The carbonaceous materials were electrochemically characterized in a 3-electrode cell to investigate their energy storage properties as supercapacitor electrodes. The highest electrochemical capacitance (˜180 Fg-1) was obtained in a potential window of 2 V. In addition, the best carbon-based material was tested as a supercapacitor electrode and exhibited a specific energy of 14.42 Wh/kg, increasing by 50 % after 15,000 cycles, highlighting its electro-activation characteristics. Even though metal sulfides have been extensively used for supercapacitors, this is the pioneering work harnessing biomass-derived carbons decorated with calcium sulfide nanoparticles for supercapacitors. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.

Filiaciones:
Soto-Díaz O.:
 Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua, 31125, Mexico

Lobato-Peralta D.R.:
 Instituto de Carboquímica, CSIC, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain

Ayala-Cortés A.:
 Instituto de Carboquímica, CSIC, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain

Villafán-Vidales H.I.:
 Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Temixco, 62580, Mexico

Gamboa-Sanchez S.A.:
 Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Temixco, 62580, Mexico

Collins-Martínez V.H.:
 Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, S. C., Chihuahua, 31136, Mexico

Román-Aguirre M.:
 Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, S. C., Chihuahua, 31136, Mexico

González-García G.:
 Departamento de Química, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, 36050, Mexico

Cuentas-Gallegos A.K.:
 Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ensenada, 22800, Mexico

Ramos-Sánchez V.H.:
 Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, 86011, United States
ISSN: 13858947
Editorial
ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA, PO BOX 564, 1001 LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND, Suiza
Tipo de documento: Article
Volumen: 507 Número:
Páginas:
WOS Id: 001431387200001