Speaker
Description
Research on supercapacitors has primarily focused on electrode materials, often overlooking the significance of separators. This research explores the use of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) derived from rice straw, an abundant biomass resource, processed through TEMPO-mediated oxidation and me-chanical disintegration, as membrane separators in supercapacitors. Initial-ly, an optimal CNF membrane thickness of 30 µm was identified, enhancing the specific capacitance of supercapacitors. Subsequent investigations tar-geted the roles of pore size and porosity, achieving over 60% porosity through the addition of SiO2 nanoparticles into the CNFs, which increased the specific capacitance from 150 F g-1 to 180 F g-1. Further research exam-ined the impact of surface charge on electrochemical performance. TEMPO-oxidized CNFs, naturally negatively charged due to carboxyl group attach-ment, were treated with a cationic polyelectrolyte to neutralize the surface charge. This near-zero surface charge significantly improved ionic conduc-tivity and supercapacitor performance. Utilizing rice straw not only pro-vides a sustainable source for energy storage materials but also supports a circular economy by transforming agricultural waste into high-value prod-ucts. These findings underscore the importance of optimizing CNF mem-brane properties for enhanced supercapacitor efficiency and highlight the potential of biomass utilization in advancing sustainable energy solutions.
