Environment-friendly approach for synthesis of promising porous carbon: empowering supercapacitors for a sustainable future

Abstract

This work reports, for the first time, the conversion of polyethylene oxide (PEO) into porous carbon (PC) and its application in supercapacitors (SC). For applications in contemporary technology, PCs and related materials are found extensively in nature. Due to the irreplaceable unique characteristics of PC, such as its tunable pore volume and pore size, physical and chemical stability, and very high surface area, there can be a broader range of applications. Along with these, its good catalytic properties and low cost make PC a better choice as an electrode material for SC. Therefore, this work assessed the synthesis of PC from PEO by using concentrated sulfuric acid (con. H₂SO₄) as an activating agent. Detailed studies related to the PC synthesized here were conducted, and its potential applications in SC were thoroughly investigated. The fabricated SC cell showed the highest specific capacitance of ∼100 F g⁻¹ at 5 mV s⁻¹ with ionic liquid (EMImTCM)-incorporated PVDF-HFP solid polymer electrolyte. Therefore, this study not only advances our understanding of PEO as a new precursor for synthesis of PC, but also offers tangible insights to propel progress toward a future with more sustainable and efficient energy.