Enhanced Activated Carbon with H2SO4-activation of African Maize Cobs biomass for Supercapacitor electrodes material application

The African Maize Cobs (AMC) biomass was converted into activated carbon (AC) for electrode materials for supercapacitor application. The carbonization was carried out with concentrated sulphuric acid and the activation was done in three (3) batches using activation temperatures of 600, 700 and 800oC. The AC materials were characterized by Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DSC), N2-adsorption-desorption isotherms, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Boehm titration, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Raman Spectroscopy and electrochemical analysis (EC). The materials activated were highly functionalized with oxygen groups with total acidity of 0.440 – 0.464mmol/g, basicity of 0.09 – 0.420mmol/g and oxygen percentage composition of 22 – 32%. The AC materials were analysed with EC as electrode material for supercapacitor devices. The electrode materials revealed specific capacitance of; 456.4 F/g ...