Tailoring Hierarchical Porous Carbon Electrode from Carbon Black via 3D Diatomite Morphology Control for Enhanced Electrochemical Performance

Abstract

Carbon black, a nano-porous material usually derived from the pyrolysis of waste tyres possesses varied particle sizes and morphology making it a viable material for several engineering applications. However, the high tendency for CB to agglomerate remains a challenge. To address this, bio-templating has been employed to produce a nanostructured porous carbon electrode material for supercapacitor applications using diatom as a template. The diatomite-synthesized activated carbon (DSAC) was fabricated through a three-step process involving acid treatment of diatomite, thermal activation of carbon black, and bio-template synthesis. The resulting material was thoroughly characterized using XRD, Raman spectroscopy, BET analysis, and SEM imaging. Its electrochemical properties were assessed through cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The DSAC material exhibited a high specific surface area of 266.867 m²/g, pore volume of 0.6606 cm3/g, and mean pore radius of 1.8943 nm. The electrochemical evaluation revealed that the DSAC demonstrates excellent electrochemical performance, achieving a high specific capacitance of 630.18 F/g and retaining 94.29% capacitance after 5000 cycles at 1 A/g. The DSAC electrode is eco-friendly and a promising candidate for supercapacitor applications.