Impact of Acetate‐Based Hydrogel Electrolyte on Electrical Performance and Stability of Eco‐Friendly Supercapacitors

Abstract

The electrochemical characteristics and stability of hydrogel‐based environmentally friendly supercapacitors employing sodium acetate as salt have been investigated. To ensure the overall sustainability of the devices, chitosan (a biomaterial from renewable resources) and activated carbon (derived from coconut shells) have been used as a binder and filler within the electrodes, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge, and impedance spectroscopy measurements have been performed to compare the electrochemical properties of the fabricated devices. Compared to reference electrolytes containing NaCl, the utilization of sodium acetate exhibited enhancements in energy performance and stability up to 50000 cycles. The most efficient device has been delivered approximately 10.6 Wh/kg of energy at a high‐power density of about 3940 W/kg. A comprehensive investigation of the electrochemical performances has been carried out, considering both faradaic and non‐faradaic processes as charge storage mechanisms within the devices. A model has been proposed to describe the storage mechanisms and to provide insights into the ageing phenomena observed during the cycling procedure.

Regeneration and Long-Term Stability of a Low-Power Eco-Friendly Temperature Sensor Based on a Hydrogel Nanocomposite

“…Natural biopolymer hydrogels have attracted considerable interest owing to their distinctive qualities, including eco-friendliness, high water affinity, biocompatibility, flexibility, and customizable physical and chemical properties [1][2][3]. These characteristics have prominently positioned them in various applications spanning from the pharmaceutical to biomedical sectors, playing a crucial role in drug delivery mechanisms [4][5][6] and tissue engineering [7,8].…”

“…In recent decades, the integration of natural biopolymer hydrogels with various fillers, such as activated carbon, graphene, and graphene oxide, has given rise to hydrogel nanocomposites [2,[9][10][11][12][13]. These composites have gained widespread use as smart materials in the field of electronics, contributing significantly to advancements in sensing technologies [9][10][11].…”

“…These composites have gained widespread use as smart materials in the field of electronics, contributing significantly to advancements in sensing technologies [9][10][11]. Moreover, hydrogel nanocomposites have demonstrated relevance also in the field of energy storage devices [2,12,13]. More recently, substantial attention has been directed towards hydrogel-based electrolytes, propelled by their ionic conductive properties and their capacity to establish a galvanic cell with metal electrodes [14][15][16][17].…”