Issue 26, 2025, Issue in Progress

In situ nitrogen-doped porous carbon from waste baby diapers as a high-performance supercapacitor electrode material

Abstract

This study presents a method for the synthesis of nitrogen-doped porous carbon (NAPC) from nitrogen-rich superabsorbent material (SAP) found in waste baby diapers for application as an electrode material for high-performance supercapacitors. Through rapid pyrolysis and KOH activation, the resulting NAPC material exhibited a high specific surface area and abundant microporous structure, which promoted efficient ion transport and energy storage. Electrochemical testing demonstrated that the NAPC-650-4 sample achieved a specific capacitance of 353 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1 in a 6 M KOH electrolyte, with a capacitance retention rate of 87.65% after 10 000 cycles. This finding indicates the material's excellent rate capability and cycle stability. Furthermore, the symmetric supercapacitor assembled from NAPC-650-4 delivered an energy density of 7.22 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 125 W kg−1, which showed its potential for high-power applications. This research not only provides a feasible green solution for recycling waste diapers but also a new approach for the development of high-performance electrode materials.

Graphical abstract: In situ nitrogen-doped porous carbon from waste baby diapers as a high-performance supercapacitor electrode material

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
19 Jan 2025
Accepted
21 Apr 2025
First published
18 Jun 2025
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

RSC Adv., 2025,15, 20657-20667

In situ nitrogen-doped porous carbon from waste baby diapers as a high-performance supercapacitor electrode material

G. Song, Y. Tian, J. Wang, S. Zhang, H. Hou, C. Wei, L. Cao, J. Zhang and S. Zhang, RSC Adv., 2025, 15, 20657 DOI: 10.1039/D5RA00450K

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