Hierarchically Graphitic Carbon Structure Derived from Metal Ions Impregnated Harmful Inedible Seaweed as Energy-Related Material

• Published in: Materials Vol. 17; no. 18; p. 4643
• Main Authors: Song, Yun-Mi, Park, Hui Gyeong, Lee, Jung-Soo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 21-09-2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Algae; Alternative energy sources; Annealing; Batteries; Biomass; Biomass energy production; Capacitors; Carbon; EDLC; Electrode materials; Electrodes; Electrolytes; Energy storage; Environmental protection; graphitic carbon; metal catalyst; Microscopy; Nickel; Oxidation; Pore size; porous carbon; Renewable energy; Scientific imaging; seaweed; Seaweeds; Stainless steel; supercapacitor; South Korea; Massachusetts; United States > US; graphitic carbon; seaweed; porous carbon; EDLC; metal catalyst; supercapacitor
• ISSN: 1996-1944; 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma17184643

This study explored the development of hierarchical graphitic carbon structures (HGCs) from harmful inedible seaweed waste harvested in the summer. Elevated sea temperatures during the summer increase the cellulose content of seaweeds, making them unsuitable for consumption. By utilizing seaweed biomass, this study addresses critical marine environmental issues and provides a sustainable solution for promising electrode materials for energy storage devices. The fabrication process involved impregnating seaweed with Ni ions, followed by annealing to create a highly crystalline carbon structure. Subsequent etching produced numerous nano-sized pores and a large surface area (806 m
/g), significantly enhancing the number of electrically active sites. The resulting HGCs exhibited a high capacitance and maintained their capacity even after 10,000 cycles in fast-current systems. This innovative approach not only mitigates the environmental burden of seaweed waste but also offers a sustainable method for converting it into efficient energy storage materials.