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Effects of Ionic Liquid and Biomass Sources on Carbon Nanotube Physical and Electrochemical Properties

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  • Kudzai Mugadza

    (School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa
    SMRI/NRF SARChI Research Chair in Sugarcane Biorefining, School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa)

  • Annegret Stark

    (SMRI/NRF SARChI Research Chair in Sugarcane Biorefining, School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa)

  • Patrick G. Ndungu

    (Energy, Sensors and Multifunctional Nanomaterials Research Group, Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa)

  • Vincent O. Nyamori

    (School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa)

Abstract

The ongoing research toward meeting global energy demands requires novel materials from abundant renewable resources. This work involves an investigation on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs) synthesized from relatively low-cost and readily available biomass as carbon precursors and their use as electrodes for supercapacitors. The influence of the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, or its combination with either sugarcane bagasse or cellulose (IL-CNTs, ILBag-CNTs, and ILCel-CNTs, respectively), in the synthesis of N-CNTs and the resultant effect on their physical and electrochemical properties was studied. Systematic characterizations of the N-CNTs employing transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), elemental analysis, nitrogen sorption analysis, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were performed. TEM data analysis showed that the mean outer diameters decreased, in the order of IL-CNTs > ILBag-CNTs > ILCel-CNTs. The N-CNTs possess only pyridinic and pyrrolic nitrogen-doping moieties. The pyridinic nitrogen-doping content is lowest in IL-CNTs and highest in ILCel-CNTs. The N-CNTs are mesoporous with surface areas in the range of 21–52 m 2 g −1 . The ILCel-CNTs had the highest specific capacitance of 30 F g −1 , while IL-CNTs has the least, 10 F g −1 . The source of biomass is beneficial for tuning physicochemical properties such as the size and surface areas of N-CNTs, the pyridinic nitrogen-doping content, and ultimately capacitance, leading to materials with excellent properties for electrochemical applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Kudzai Mugadza & Annegret Stark & Patrick G. Ndungu & Vincent O. Nyamori, 2021. "Effects of Ionic Liquid and Biomass Sources on Carbon Nanotube Physical and Electrochemical Properties," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-12, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:5:p:2977-:d:513710
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. M. S. Dresselhaus & I. L. Thomas, 2001. "Alternative energy technologies," Nature, Nature, vol. 414(6861), pages 332-337, November.
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    1. Hossein Beidaghy Dizaji & Thomas Zeng & Volker Lenz & Dirk Enke, 2022. "Valorization of Residues from Energy Conversion of Biomass for Advanced and Sustainable Material Applications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-5, April.

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