Preparation and electrochemical properties of porous carbon derived from lignin

Porous carbon derived from lignin holds immense potential for use in supercapacitors, due to its abundant pore structure and high specific surface area. In this research, lignin, which is selected due to its renewable and abundant nature compared to traditional carbon sources, was used as the precursor for producing lignin-derived carbon materials through a carbonization-activation process. The resulting porous carbon materials underwent rigorous characterization using SEM, BET, Raman, XRD and XPS to uncover their morphological and structural intricacies. This study delves into the influence of purified lignin (PL) and the type of activator on the microstructure and electrochemical properties of the porous carbon. Notably, the optimal product, achieved with a mass ratio of EL to KOH at 1:2 and activation temperature at 750 °C, emerges as an excellent electrode material for high-performance supercapacitors. This superior carbon material boasts a remarkable specific surface area of 2615.5 m 2  g −1 , demonstrating an electrochemical capacitance up to 350 F/g at 1 A/g, which surpasses many existing carbon materials in performance. By harnessing raw materials sourced from agricultural byproducts, this study not only presents a cost-effective solution but also proposes a novel approach towards the high-value utilization of biomass wastes. The successful preparation of activated carbon with exceptional performance from these renewable resources paves the way for the development of low-cost, high-performance supercapacitors, contributing significantly to the advancement of sustainable energy storage systems.