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Breakthrough in Energy Storage: Nitrogen-Oxygen Co-doped Porous Carbon from Biomass

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research at the Taiyuan University of Technology in Shanxi, China, has led to the development of a new, high-performance supercapacitor material derived from biomass waste. The discovery, published in the Journal of Energy Storage, utilizes nitrogen-rich and oxygen-rich biomass waste, specifically ripe plane tree fluff (PTF), as a precursor to create nitrogen-oxygen co-doped porous carbon (NOPCs). This innovative approach addresses the need for high energy density in supercapacitors.

Key Takeaways:

  • The research aims to prepare NOPCs through hetero-atom self-doping coupled with the green activation of organometallic salt potassium citrate.
  • The activation of NOPCs with potassium citrate significantly increases the specific surface area (SSA) from 580 m2 g-1 to 1806 m2 g-1.
  • The pore size distribution can be modified by varying the ratio of carbon material to potassium citrate, expanding the micropore size from 0.45 nm to 0.85 nm.
  • The assembled symmetric supercapacitor exhibits a high energy density of 10.37 Wh kg-1 and a high specific capacitance of 438.6 F g-1 at a current density of 1 A g-1.
  • The specific capacitance of 78.56% can still be maintained after 10,000 cycles.
  • The porous carbon material derived from PTF offers significant practical value and potential applications in the field of supercapacitors.
  • The research has been peer-reviewed and supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Key Research and Development Program of Shanxi Province, Central Government Guides Local Science and Technology Development Special Fund Project, Natural Science Foundation of Shanxi Province, and Science and Technology Innovation Project of Higher Education in Shanxi Province.

Statistics:

  • 1806 m2 g-1: Specific surface area of NOPCs-3 after activation with potassium citrate.
  • 10.37 Wh kg-1: Energy density of the assembled symmetric supercapacitor.
  • 438.6 F g-1: Specific capacitance of the supercapacitor at a current density of 1 A g-1.
  • 78.56%: Specific capacitance maintained after 10,000 cycles.

Sources:

  • Nitrogen-oxygen Co-doped Porous Carbon Directly Derived From Biomass Via Potassium Citrate Activation for High-performance Supercapacitors. Journal of Energy Storage, 2025;121.
  • NewsRx. Investigators from Taiyuan University of Technology Zero in on Energy Storage (Nitrogen-oxygen Co-doped Porous Carbon Directly Derived From Biomass Via Potassium Citrate Activation for High-performance Supercapacitors). Biotech Week. June 18, 2025; p 205.

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