(537d) HTL Derived Biochar as Electrode Material for Supercapacitors

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of a lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) produces biochar and aqueous biocrude. After acetone extraction, heavy bio-oil (HBO) is recovered. The leftover biochar is an excellent cost-effective carbonaceous byproduct, characterized by the surface functional groups such as C-O, C=O, and -OH that are dependent on biomass precursors and annealing conditions. Optimization of the annealing conditions could yield high specific surface area (SSA) carbon. In this study, biochar was produced from HTL liquefaction of a LCB at 300^oC, followed by annealing at higher temperatures in an inert environment. Following the annealing treatment, the char material was characterized for pore volume, pore diameter, and SSA by BET analyzer and investigated as an electrode for an electrochemical double-layer capacitor (EDLCs) along with Mn:Ti perovskite material. The specific capacitance of the fabricated supercapacitors was measured using cyclic voltammetry. Results obtained with the effect of annealing conditions on the biochar characteristics and charge storage ability of supercapacitors will be presented.