Activated carbon from Prunus persica seed stones as a negatrode material for high-performance supercapacitors

Abstract

Supercapacitors have emerged as a promising energy storage solution due to their high-power density, long cycle life, and fast charging-discharging capabilities. Current advancements emphasize the use of graphene and carbon-based nanocomposite materials derived from waste biomass, forming intricate 3D nano-architectures that significantly boost energy storage capacity. This research investigates the potential of orthophosphoric acid-activated carbon (HAC) derived from Prunus persica (peach) seed stones, carbonized at temperatures of 400 °C, 600 °C, and 800 °C, as an electrode material for electrochemical double layer supercapacitor (EDLC). Physicochemical characterization of as-prepared activated carbon (AC) revealed the nanoporous morphology. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface analysis revealed that activated carbon produced at 800 °C (HAC-8) had the highest specific surface area of 788.01 m² g⁻¹. This sample featured a micro-and meso‑porous network within the carbon matrix compared to samples carbonized at lower temperature. Raman spectra showed the prominent graphitization band which is also supported by the x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The interconnected porous structure of HAC-8 contributed a significant specific capacitance of 326.9 F g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.5 A g⁻¹ with the capacity retention of 97.12 % after a run of 10,000 charging-discharging cycles. Based on these remarks, HAC-8 demonstrated significant potential as a negatrode material for supercapacitor applications.