Carbon powder from sugarcane bagasse: Controlled synthesis for on-demand H2O2 electrogeneration

Abstract

In this study, we developed a green synthesis route to produce a conductive carbon material selective towards H₂O₂ electrogeneration, utilizing sugarcane bagasse (SCB), an abundant byproduct of the sugar and ethanol industries, as the feedstock. Through a tailored process involving impregnation with phosphoric acid and thermal activation, we synthesized amorphous porous carbon with outstanding properties - a surface area above 1500 m²g^-1 and adjustable porosity from meso to micropores. The application of the optimized carbon material in the Gas Diffusion Electrode (GDE) yielded an H₂O₂ concentration of up to 1900 mg L⁻¹ in 120 min of electrolysis, even at practical current densities of up to 160 mA cm⁻². The findings of this study point to the suitability of SCB-derived carbon material as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to the traditional petrol-derived carbon materials typically employed in H₂O₂ electrogeneration; clearly, these findings have promising implications for environmentally conscious practices.