Utilizing Waste Thermocol Sheets and Rusted Iron Wires to Fabricate Carbon–Fe₃O₄ Nanocomposite‐Based Supercapacitors: Turning Wastes into Value‐Added Materials

Abstract

The synthesis of porous activated carbon (specific surface area=1883 m g ), Fe O nanoparticles, and carbon-Fe O (C-Fe O ) nanocomposites from local waste thermocol sheets and rusted iron wires is demonstrated herein. The resulting carbon, Fe O nanoparticles, and C-Fe O composites are used as electrode materials for supercapacitor applications. In particular, C-Fe O composite electrodes exhibit a high specific capacitance of 1375 F g at 1 A g and longer cyclic stability with 98 % capacitance retention over 10 000 cycles. Subsequently, an asymmetric supercapacitor, namely, C-Fe O ∥Ni(OH) /carbon nanotube device, exhibits a high energy density of 91.1 Wh kg and a remarkable cyclic stability, with 98 % capacitance retention over 10 000 cycles. Thus, this work has important implications not only for the fabrication of low-cost electrodes for high-performance supercapacitors, but also for the recycling of waste thermocol sheets and rusted iron wires for value-added reuse.

Sulphur Source-Inspired Self-Grown 3D NixSy Nanostructures and Their Electrochemical Supercapacitors

“…High surface area, nanorod morphology, mesoporous signature, and low charge-transport resistance (discussed later) of the Ni x S y -STS superstructured electrode contributed a better SC compared to the NiF and other Ni x S y electrodes. To understand the fundamental battery and/or capacitive behaviors in Ni x S y electrodes, a power law was adopted, i = a υ b , where υ is the scan rate (mV s –1 ) and a and b are the variable parameters. ,− The values for a and b were obtained from the slope and x -axis intercept of a log i vs log υ plot [obtained at different potentials (υ)] (see Figure h), respectively. If b is smaller than 0.5, the current obeys a diffusion-controlled battery-type mechanism; however, if b is above and close to 1, the material follows a capacitive mechanism.…”

Strongly coupled N-doped carbon/Fe3O4/N-doped carbon hierarchical micro/nanostructures for enhanced lithium storage performance

“…Two defined bands at about 1355 and 1590 cm −1 are assigned to D and G bands for carbon, respectively. For both samples, it is seen that the intensity of G bands is higher than that of D bands, indicating a high degree of graphitization of the carbon [27,28] . The relatively weak band at around 660 cm −1 is attributed to A 1g in Fe 3 To confirm the Fe 3 O 4 content in the hybrids, TG analysis was carried out and the results are present in Fig.…”

Metal‐oxide nanomaterials recycled from E‐waste and metal industries: A concise review of applications in energy storage, catalysis, and sensing

“…In this paper, we have reviewed a range of energy storage materials derived from waste‐based metal‐oxide nanomaterials. Some of this high‐quality research has shown promising performance which is comparable to commercially available materials and we believe that in particular (a) red mud 36,37 and (b) thermocol sheets 33 may warrant further research, as they have both been shown in working supercapacitor devices, suggestive that these could be scaled up. However, the outlook for future work is uncertain due to two main areas.…”

“…Vadiyar and co‐workers 33 produced activated carbon‐Fe 3 O 4 nanocomposite from local waste thermocol sheets and rusted iron wires and used as the electrode material for supercapacitor application. A reflux precipitation method was employed to synthesize strongly interconnected Fe 3 O 4 NPs on the carbon microparticle backbone, as shown in Figure 2B).…”