Boosting Supercapacitor Efficiency with Amorphous Biomass‐Derived C@TiO₂ Composites

Abstract

Carbon materials are readily available and are essential in energy storage. One of the routes used to enhance their surface area and activity is the decoration of carbons with semiconductors, such as amorphous TiO2, for application in energy storage devices. This work reports the preparation of amorphous TiO2 nanopowders, which were obtained through the anodization of titanium in ethaline media. The obtained amorphous TiO2 was used to obtain TiO2‐decorated carbon (obtained through the carbonization of glycogen precursor from mussel cooking wastewater, under N2 atmosphere) composites through three different methods: electrochemical in‐situ attachment of TiO2 nanopowders to the carbon matrix using ultrasounds and sonication in ethaline. Commercial TiO2 was used as the comparison material. Morphology, composition, and structure analysis were performed, followed by the electrochemical analysis in ethaline electrolyte. The in‐situ attachment of amorphous TiO2 to the carbon matrix shows the most promising electrochemical performance of 956 F g‐1 at 1 A g‐1 for the three‐electrode cell setup, with 100% and 98% capacitance retention after 1000 and 10000 cycles. On a two‐electrode symmetric solid‐state electrolyte cell, the gravimetric capacitance is 1251 F g‐1, at 1 A g‐1, with 90% and 78% capacitance retention after 1000 and 10000 cycles, respectively.