Innovative approaches of porous carbon materials derived from energy waste and their electrochemical properties

The pathway to sustainable development and carbon neutrality is contingent upon the development of high-performance porous carbon electrode materials sourced from biomass and industrial waste. The present research introduces an innovative approach for the fabrication of porous carbon, harnessing the collaborative impact of various materials to transform biomass in the form of corncobs and industrial byproduct fly ash into tiered porous carbon characterized by a high specific surface area and excellent functionality, via a simple hydrothermal activation method. This material is particularly well-suited for applications in supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, and other energy storage systems. The porous carbon material fabricated from these two waste streams boasts a wealth of pores and an exceptional specific surface area (1768 m² g⁻¹), which in turn confers superior electrochemical performance. The material achieves a remarkable specific capacitance of up to 240 F g^-1 (at 1 A g^-1), and demonstrates remarkable properties for lithium storage. Lithium-ion batteries constructed with this material feature an extensive potential range, with an initial specific capacity of 160 mAh g^-1 at 0.1 A g^-1, and a near-perfect coulomb efficiency of approximately 100%. This research uncovers a novel paradigm for the preparation of high-performance porous carbon electrode materials through a low-carbon and environmentally conscious approach. It not only advances the pursuit of carbon neutrality and the realization of carbon peak objectives but also underscores the potential of valorizing biomass and industrial byproducts in the context of cutting-edge energy storage technologies.