39th Annual Student Research Conference
From Biomass to Energy: Supercapacitor From Walnut-Derived Carbon and Hay-Derived Cellulose
Brayden Chen *, Drake C. Britton, and Aidan Toner
Dr. Rasanjali Jayathissa, Faculty Mentor
Many technological advances require an abundance of scarce resources, with supercapacitors (SCs) among them. SCs are able to store electrical energy and release it quickly when needed, yet the materials are rare and expensive. This project explores the fabrication and performance of a ‘Green' SC which utilizes walnut-derived carbon as the electrode material and hay-derived cellulose as the biodegradable separator. The methodology involves the conversion of raw biomass into functional components through the application of solid-state and simple wet-chemistry techniques. The material properties are verified through Fourier-transformed Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, and the performance of fabricated lab-scale SCs is conducted through electric circuit testing and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to determine the capacitance, internal resistance, and charge-discharge efficiency. This research advances sustainable energy initiatives and provides a scalable model for environmentally conscious energy storage solutions.
Keywords: Supercapacitors, Walnut-Derived Carbon, Hay-Derived Cellulose, Sustainable Materials, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), Fourier-transformed Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy
Topic(s):Physics
Chemistry
Environmental Studies
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
Session: TBA
Location: TBA
Time: TBA