Production and characterization of activated carbon-based energy storage systems

In this thesis, activated carbons produced by chemical activation technique from pine cones which was selected as waste biomass and their electrochemical performance as an electrode active material in supercapacitor applications was investigated. Within this scope, the optimization study was carried out primarily by using commercial activated carbon, and biomass-based activated carbons were subjected to different electrochemical tests under the determined optimum conditions. It has been determined that the optimum electrode composition for the CR2032 system is AC:CB:PVDF, the mass% ratio is 80:15:05, the optimum operating potential range is between 0.7-0.9V, and the optimum electrode thickness is 60 mm. Commercial activated carbon and biomass-based activated carbons were analyzed by cyclic voltammetry, constant current charge-discharge and impedance spectroscopy techniques in both the three-electrode system and the CR2032 system. The obtained results were compared over parameters such as specific capacitance, equivalent series resistance, and colombic efficiency. Biomass-based activated carbons exhibited a specific capacitance of 43.7 F/g and an ESR of 105.8 mV and a 98% Columbic efficiency even at a high constant current density of 1000 mA/g. As a result, it has been demonstrated that the biomass-based activated carbons are regarded as good electrode material in supercapacitor applications.