Insect-powered electrochemical capacitors: The potential of cricket biomass

Abstract

Insect biomass, rich in chitin and chitosan, is a sustainable and abundant resource with substantial promise for advancing green energy storage solutions. In this study, we explored cricket flour as a biomass candidate for carbon electrodes in electrochemical capacitors, aiming at creating a material with a high nitrogen content upon carbonization. The optimized material boasted a specific surface area exceeding 3300 m²/g, with most pores falling within the 0.5–2 nm diameter range. In a symmetrical Swagelok-type cell, this material delivered exceptional performance, yielding capacitances of 273.5 F/g, 200.2 F/g, and 161.6 F/g at 1 A/g in 6 M KOH, 1 M H₂SO₄, and 9.2 M NaClO₄ electrolytes, respectively. Furthermore, it showcased a capacity retention of 89.6 % and 87.9 % over 5000 cycles in 1 M H₂SO₄ and 6 M KOH, respectively. The cricket-based electrochemical capacitor exhibited robust cycling stability, suggesting its suitability for prolonged use. The resulting device demonstrated remarkably high specific capacitance, positioning it as a promising candidate for energy storage applications.