Precursor phenotype-driven porosity development in activated carbons for enhanced supercapacitor performance
Por:
Lobato-Peralta D.R., Duque-Brito E., Pacheco-Catalán D.E., Longoria A., Okoye P.U., Cuentas-Gallegos A.K.
Publicada:
1 ene 2026
Resumen:
© 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/This study explores the influence of lignocellulosic phenotypes on the porosity of activated carbon and their performance as supercapacitor electrodes. Two precursors with similar cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and ash content, but distinct fiber and shell phenotypes, were selected. These precursors were analyzed using SEM, elemental analysis, and TGA to assess their thermochemical conversion to carbon. The lignocellulosic precursors were converted into activated carbon in a tubular furnace through thermal treatment at 600, 700, and 800 °C, using K2CO3 as the activating agent. The resulting activated carbons were thoroughly characterized by SEM, Raman spectroscopy, gas physisorption, and elemental analysis, revealing meso- and microporous structures, with specific surfaces of more than 1000 m2/g, that enhance the energy storage in supercapacitors. Electrochemical performance was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge techniques. The findings demonstrated that the fiber phenotype exhibited higher thermal reactivity, facilitating greater gasification of its components. This resulted in increased porosity, a larger specific surface area, and higher oxygen content in the resulting carbons. These enhanced properties significantly improved the energy storage capacity of the fiber-based carbons in three-electrode cells compared to their shell-based counterparts. The analysis of supercapacitors made from the best carbons obtained from each precursor indicates an energy retention exceeding 95% and a coulombic efficiency close to 100% over 10,000 cycles. In summary, this study provides valuable insights into the critical role of lignocellulosic precursor phenotypes in determining activated carbon properties and optimizing performance for energy storage applications.
Filiaciones:
Instituto de Carboquímica, Spanish National Research Council, Miguel Luesma Castán 4, Zaragoza, Aragón 50014, Spain
Instituto de Energías Renovables (IER-UNAM), Privada Xochicalco S/n, Col. Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, Mexico
Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A. C. Carretera Sierra Papacal-Chuburná Puerto, km 5. Sierra Papacal, Mérida, Yucatán, C.P. 97302, Mexico
Centro de Investigación en Ciencia Aplicada y Tecnología Avanzada (CICATA) Unidad Morelos
Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Km. 107 Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, Ensenada, B.C., C.P. 22800, Mexico
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