Porous carbon nanosheet with high surface area derived from waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) for supercapacitor applications

Abstract

Converting waste plastics into valuable carbon materials has obtained increasing attention. In addition, carbon materials have shown to be the ideal electrode materials for double-layer supercapacitors owing to their large specific surface area, high electrical conductivity, and stable physicochemical properties. Herein, an easily operated approach is established to efficiently convert waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) beverage bottles into porous carbon nanosheet (PCNS) through the combined processes of catalytic carbonization and KOH activation. PCNS features an ultrahigh specific surface area (2236 m 2 g −1 ), hierarchically porous architecture, and a large pore volume (3.0 cm 3 g −1 ). Such excellent physicochemical properties conjointly contribute to the outstanding supercapacitive performance: 169 F g −1 (6 M KOH) and 135 F g −1 (1 M Na 2 SO 4 ). Furthermore, PCNS shows a high capacitance of 121 F g −1 and a corresponding energy density of 30.6 Wh kg −1 at 0.2 A g −1 in the electrolyte of 1 M TEATFB/PC. When the current density increases to 10 A g −1 , the capacitance remains at 95 F g −1 , indicating the extraordinary rate capability. This work not only proposes a facile approach to synthesize PCNS for supercapacitors, but also puts forward a potential sustainable way to recycle waste plastics and further hopefully mitigates the waste plastics-related environmental issues.

Supercapacitors in the Light of Solid Waste and Energy Management: A Review

“…Also, a capacitance of 121 F g −1 and an energy density of 30.6 W h kg −1 at 0.2 A g −1 were achieved with 1 m TEABF 4 -PC electrolyte. [92] In another attempt, Al-Enizi et al applied a hydrothermal route to incorporate NiO x -NPs onto nitrogen-doped porous carbon obtained from PET-derived Ni-MOF, enhancing their electrochemical characteristics. The material, with a novel specific surface area of 1523 m 2 g −1 , showed a capacitance of 581.30 F g −1 on a three-electrode system against a scan rate of 5 mV s −1 .…”

“…Also, a capacitance of 121 F g −1 and an energy density of 30.6 W h kg −1 at 0.2 A g −1 were achieved with 1 m TEABF 4 ‐PC electrolyte. [ 92 ] In another attempt, Al‐Enizi et al. applied a hydrothermal route to incorporate NiO x ‐NPs onto nitrogen‐doped porous carbon obtained from PET‐derived Ni‐MOF, enhancing their electrochemical characteristics.…”

“…Benign materials retrieved from carbon-rich agricultural and food biowaste, [9,105,115,116] industrial waste, [76][77][78][79] paper, [74,80,81] and cotton [82] have been used in their fabrication. Additionally, carbon acquired from discarded polymers [83][84][85][86][87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95] as well as valuable metals and metal composites recuperated from electronic waste including spent batteries [96][97][98][99][100][101][102] have been utilized in the preparation of supercapacitor electrodes. Contemporarily, the global awareness for a sustainable future has seen the evolution of novel electrolytes for these devices.…”

Liquid Metals‐Assisted Synthesis of Scalable 2D Nanomaterials: Prospective Sediment Inks for Screen‐Printed Energy Storage Applications

“…Charge storage in supercapacitors involves the creation of an electrical double layer in the first few nanometers on the surface of the electrode. [ 61 ] Hence, the efficiency of a supercapacitor depends on the charge density generated in that double layer. Modification and/or functionalization of an electrode could effectively improve the performance of supercapacitors.…”

High-Mass Loading Hierarchically Porous Activated Carbon Electrode for Pouch-Type Supercapacitors with Propylene Carbonate-Based Electrolyte

“…Specifically, the macropores (>50 nm) serve as the ion-buffering reservoirs, mesopores (2–50 nm) serve as the electrolyte ions transport channels, and micropores (<2 nm) usually serve as the charge storage sites [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Recently, various efforts have been made to synthesize the HPAC [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. Given by such distinctive contributions of HPAC, their electrochemical performances including specific capacitance, rate capabilities, cycle stability, etc.…”