Observing the stability of carbon materials as electrodes for Ultracapacitors using Stepped Cyclic Voltammetry

We generate energy through various sources like coal, hydrothermal, wind, nuclear, etc. However, as we do not immediately use them, they need to be stored and transported. Hence, energy storage devices are important. One such energy storage device that is being studied these days is the supercapacitor. Industrial supercapacitors generally use activated carbons in their electrodes. Generally, they are derived from coconut husks as raw materials. However, there are various economic and logistical challenges that exist when using coconuts. Hence, hemp has been used as a possible substitute to derive activated carbons, with a lot of environmental and economic benefits. The exploration of a different carbon source in developing supercapacitors requires us to thoroughly and comprehensively understand their properties. Stepped cyclic voltammetry serves as a crucial tool in providing insights into the stability of various carbons across different voltage regions. We can understand their electrochemical behavior and performance under varying conditions by subjecting the carbons to cyclic voltammetric testing by a step-by-step voltage change. Also, the quantification of carbon compositions is essential for optimizing supercapacitor performance. X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy seems to be a good method to help us determine the composition of our activated carbons. This was achieved by developing a method using calibration curves to quantify our carbon samples' elemental composition, hence providing us with insights that can help us to make informed decisions in selecting our materials and their washing methods and criteria. Raman spectroscopy emerges as a valuable tool to describe the intricate interplay between the structure of our carbons and their electrochemical performance. By analyzing the intensities of the D and G bands in the Raman spectra of activated carbons, we can get insights into their structural characteristics and their impact on their electrochemical behavior. The variations in the ratio of the intensities of D to G band can tell us about the degree of disorder in our carbons, their probable graphitization, and how these variations can influence their electrochemical properties.