The realization of biomass‐derived supercapacitors of high performance is of practical importance for the manufacturing of supercapacitors from green and renewable sources. Herein, the feasibility of constructing high‐performance supercapacitors from potato‐derived activated carbon (AC) is demonstrated. The potato‐derived AC is produced from potato mash through hydrothermal treatment and high‐temperature activation with KOH as agent. The supercapacitors with aqueous electrolyte of 6 mKOH and a mass loading of 5 mg per electrode achieve a specific gravimetric capacitance of 333.7 F g−1per electrode and a specific energy of 11.75 W h g−1at a specific power of 197.6 W kg−1at a current density of 0.4 A g−1under a nominal compressive stress of 7.96 MPa. The supercapacitors with a mass loading of 10 mg per electrode achieve the maximum specific gravimetric capacitance of 340.6 F g−1and a specific energy of 11.75 W h g−1at a specific power of 194.2 W kg−1at a current density of 0.4 A g−1under a nominal compressive stress of 7.96 MPa. Increasing the compaction of electrode materials under compressive stress has the potential to increase the electrochemical performance of supercapacitors.
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Machine-learning-assisted material discovery of oxygen-rich highly porous carbon active materials for aqueous supercapacitors
Abstract Porous carbons are the active materials of choice for supercapacitor applications because of their power capability, long-term cycle stability, and wide operating temperatures. However, the development of carbon active materials with improved physicochemical and electrochemical properties is generally carried out via time-consuming and cost-ineffective experimental processes. In this regard, machine-learning technology provides a data-driven approach to examine previously reported research works to find the critical features for developing ideal carbon materials for supercapacitors. Here, we report the design of a machine-learning-derived activation strategy that uses sodium amide and cross-linked polymer precursors to synthesize highly porous carbons (i.e., with specific surface areas > 4000 m2/g). Tuning the pore size and oxygen content of the carbonaceous materials, we report a highly porous carbon-base electrode with 0.7 mg/cm2of electrode mass loading that exhibits a high specific capacitance of 610 F/g in 1 M H2SO4. This result approaches the specific capacitance of a porous carbon electrode predicted by the machine learning approach. We also investigate the charge storage mechanism and electrolyte transport properties via step potential electrochemical spectroscopy and quasielastic neutron scattering measurements.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1940118
- PAR ID:
- 10467935
- Publisher / Repository:
- Springer Nature
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Nature Communications
- Volume:
- 14
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 2041-1723
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- Article number: 4607
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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