Yerba Mate: From Waste to Activated Carbon for Supercapacitors

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Abstract
Developing technological solutions using regional lignocellulosic waste as precursors is key to reducing the environmental impact of the lack of ecological disposal treatments on them, such as on-site burning and accumulation in landfills. These residues can be used to develop activated carbons. Activated carbon is a versatile material with a high surface area that can be used for energy storage.In this work, were value yerba mate residues by producing chemically activated carbon to be used as electrode material in supercapacitors. A process of carbonization, impregnation, activation with KOH and subsequent washing and drying is carried out for their development. Variables such as impregnation radius and activation temperature are studied. The developed carbons were characterized by physicochemical and electrochemical techniques. They were found to have high surface areas, up to 1800 m2g-1, with a hierarchical porous distribution. A maximum specific capacitance of 644 Fg-1 at 0.1 Ag-1, and power values of ca 32000 Wkg-1, at 33 Ag-1 were found. All the synthesized carbons have excellent electrochemical properties and are suitable for use as active material in supercapacitors.