Microwave-Assisted Preparation of Hierarchical Porous Carbon Aerogels Derived from Food Wastes for Supercapacitors

Preparing carbon aerogel in an eco-friendly and inexpensive manner remains a significant challenge. The carbon aerogels derived from food waste (FWCAs) with a three-dimensional connected network structure are successfully synthesized using microwave radiation. The as-prepared FWCA-4 (The KOH/C ratio...

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Main Authors: Zijun Dong, Tong Li, Xinghe Xu, Yi Chen, Jiemei Fu, Shichang Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Nanomaterials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/5/387
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author Zijun Dong
Tong Li
Xinghe Xu
Yi Chen
Jiemei Fu
Shichang Sun
author_facet Zijun Dong
Tong Li
Xinghe Xu
Yi Chen
Jiemei Fu
Shichang Sun
author_sort Zijun Dong
collection DOAJ
description Preparing carbon aerogel in an eco-friendly and inexpensive manner remains a significant challenge. The carbon aerogels derived from food waste (FWCAs) with a three-dimensional connected network structure are successfully synthesized using microwave radiation. The as-prepared FWCA-4 (The KOH/C ratio is 4) has a large specific surface area (1470 m<sup>2</sup>/g), pore volume (0.634 m<sup>3</sup>/g), and a high degree of graphitization. Band-like lattice stripes with a spacing of 0.34 nm, corresponding to the graphite plane, are observed. A high specific capacitance of 314 F/g at 1.0 A/g and an excellent capacitance retention (>90% after 10,000 cycles) make the FWCA-4 suitable for high-performance supercapacitor electrode materials. Furthermore, the specific surface area and pore volume of FWCA-4 are larger and the degree of graphitization is higher than in ordinary porous carbon derived from food waste (FWPC). The assembled symmetrical solid capacitor from FWCA-4 exhibits a maximum energy density of approximately 179.9 W/kg in neutral ion electrolytes. Thus, food waste is successfully used to prepare carbon aerogels through a gelation process using microwave radiation. The recycling of waste biomass is achieved, and the results provide insights for the preparation of carbon aerogels using biomass.
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Nanomaterials
spelling doaj-art-a7c0b870b48c4e7f9aba0c461b8ed4b62025-08-20T02:59:00ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-03-0115538710.3390/nano15050387Microwave-Assisted Preparation of Hierarchical Porous Carbon Aerogels Derived from Food Wastes for SupercapacitorsZijun Dong0Tong Li1Xinghe Xu2Yi Chen3Jiemei Fu4Shichang Sun5College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, The Underground Polis Academy, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, ChinaCollege of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, ChinaCollege of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, ChinaCollege of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, ChinaCollege of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, ChinaCollege of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, ChinaPreparing carbon aerogel in an eco-friendly and inexpensive manner remains a significant challenge. The carbon aerogels derived from food waste (FWCAs) with a three-dimensional connected network structure are successfully synthesized using microwave radiation. The as-prepared FWCA-4 (The KOH/C ratio is 4) has a large specific surface area (1470 m<sup>2</sup>/g), pore volume (0.634 m<sup>3</sup>/g), and a high degree of graphitization. Band-like lattice stripes with a spacing of 0.34 nm, corresponding to the graphite plane, are observed. A high specific capacitance of 314 F/g at 1.0 A/g and an excellent capacitance retention (>90% after 10,000 cycles) make the FWCA-4 suitable for high-performance supercapacitor electrode materials. Furthermore, the specific surface area and pore volume of FWCA-4 are larger and the degree of graphitization is higher than in ordinary porous carbon derived from food waste (FWPC). The assembled symmetrical solid capacitor from FWCA-4 exhibits a maximum energy density of approximately 179.9 W/kg in neutral ion electrolytes. Thus, food waste is successfully used to prepare carbon aerogels through a gelation process using microwave radiation. The recycling of waste biomass is achieved, and the results provide insights for the preparation of carbon aerogels using biomass.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/5/387microwave radiationcarbon aerogelsupercapacitorfood waste
spellingShingle Zijun Dong
Tong Li
Xinghe Xu
Yi Chen
Jiemei Fu
Shichang Sun
Microwave-Assisted Preparation of Hierarchical Porous Carbon Aerogels Derived from Food Wastes for Supercapacitors
Nanomaterials
microwave radiation
carbon aerogel
supercapacitor
food waste
title Microwave-Assisted Preparation of Hierarchical Porous Carbon Aerogels Derived from Food Wastes for Supercapacitors
title_full Microwave-Assisted Preparation of Hierarchical Porous Carbon Aerogels Derived from Food Wastes for Supercapacitors
title_fullStr Microwave-Assisted Preparation of Hierarchical Porous Carbon Aerogels Derived from Food Wastes for Supercapacitors
title_full_unstemmed Microwave-Assisted Preparation of Hierarchical Porous Carbon Aerogels Derived from Food Wastes for Supercapacitors
title_short Microwave-Assisted Preparation of Hierarchical Porous Carbon Aerogels Derived from Food Wastes for Supercapacitors
title_sort microwave assisted preparation of hierarchical porous carbon aerogels derived from food wastes for supercapacitors
topic microwave radiation
carbon aerogel
supercapacitor
food waste
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/5/387
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AT xinghexu microwaveassistedpreparationofhierarchicalporouscarbonaerogelsderivedfromfoodwastesforsupercapacitors
AT yichen microwaveassistedpreparationofhierarchicalporouscarbonaerogelsderivedfromfoodwastesforsupercapacitors
AT jiemeifu microwaveassistedpreparationofhierarchicalporouscarbonaerogelsderivedfromfoodwastesforsupercapacitors
AT shichangsun microwaveassistedpreparationofhierarchicalporouscarbonaerogelsderivedfromfoodwastesforsupercapacitors