Biomass-derived activated carbon from acacia pods as a green electrode material for supercapacitors

Nadja Melika Putri, Nursyafni Nursyafni, Apriwandi Apriwandi, Vira Friska, Pharada Kresna, Julnaidi Julnaidi, Muhammad Nasir, Minarni Shiddiq, Erwin Amiruddin, Awaludin Martin, Rika Taslim, Erman Taer

Abstract


Biomass from acacia pods has great potential as a raw material for activated carbon due to its abundant availability, environmentally friendly nature, and high carbon content. In this study, acacia pods were processed into charcoal and then chemically activated using 1 M ZnCl2 solution, followed by carbonization at 600°C and physical activation at 850°C to improve the quality of the carbon structure formed. Physical characterization showed that the synthesized activated carbon had a density of 58.8 g/cm3, which plays an important role in the electrode formation and mechanical stability of the material. The electrochemical properties were evaluated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) in 3 M Na2SO4 electrolyte, which produced a nearly rectangular voltammetric curve, indicating good capacitive response and efficient ion movement within the electrode. The maximum specific capacitance obtained was 159 F/g at a scan rate of 1 mV/s, indicating promising charge storage capabilities. These results confirm that acacia pods can be converted into high-performance activated carbon, while offering a sustainable electrode material alternative for environmentally friendly supercapacitor applications.

Keywords


Acacia pods; activated carbon; electrode material; local biomass; supercapacitor

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.31258/jkfi.22.3.221-226

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