Sustainable carbon nanofibers/nanotubes composites from cellulose as electrodes for supercapacitors
Journal article, 2015

Supercapacitors are efficient energy storage devices with long lifetime and safe service. Their effectiveness, to a big extent, is dependent on electrode materials used for accumulation of energy in form of electrostatic charges. Over the last decades, variety of carbonaceous electrode materials has been used in supercapacitors. Mostly the production of such electrodes is still oriented on unsustainable fossil fuels as precursors instead of sustainable renewable resources. In this study, freestanding carbonaceous electrode materials for supercapacitors were derived from cellulose, the most abundant renewable resource. They were synthesized via carbonization of fibrillar cellulose impregnated with CNTs (carbon nanotubes). The ensuing composite materials consisted of a CNF (carbon nanofiber) scaffold (fiber diameter in the range of 50-250 nm) covered with layers of CNTs (tube diameter in the range of 1-20 nm). Moreover, these composites were tested as electrode materials for supercapacitors. Incorporation of the CNTs into the CNFs improved electrical conductivity and also increased the surface area of the produced composite materials, which led to high specific capacitance values (up to 241 F/g), cyclic stability, and power density of these materials in electrochemical measurements. These results suggest that cellulose-derived original CNF/CNT composites are sustainable and efficient carbonaceous electrodes for supercapacitors.

energy storage

Renewable resources

carbon nanostructures

Author

Volodymyr Kuzmenko

Chalmers, Applied Physics, Electronics Material and Systems

Olga Naboka

National Research Council Canada

Mohammad Mazharul Haque

Chalmers, Applied Physics, Electronics Material and Systems

Henrik Staaf

Chalmers, Applied Physics, Electronics Material and Systems

Gert Göransson

University of Gothenburg

Paul Gatenholm

Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC)

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Peter Enoksson

Chalmers, Applied Physics, Electronics Material and Systems

Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC)

Energy

0360-5442 (ISSN)

Vol. 90 2 1490-1496

Subject Categories

Inorganic Chemistry

Manufacturing, Surface and Joining Technology

Materials Chemistry

Other Materials Engineering

Nano Technology

Composite Science and Engineering

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Areas of Advance

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Transport

Production

Energy

Materials Science

Infrastructure

Nanofabrication Laboratory

DOI

10.1016/j.energy.2015.06.102

More information

Latest update

8/27/2018