We synthesized flexible supercapacitor electrode materials by carbonizing a common livestock biowaste in the form of chicken eggshell membranes. The carbonized eggshell membrane (CESM) is a three-dimensional macroporous carbon film with a texture resembling that of thin construction paper. At higher magnification the CESM is actually composed of interwoven connected microporous carbon fibers containing around 10 wt% oxygen and 8 wt% nitrogen. Despite relatively low surface area of 221 m2 g-1, exceptional specific capacitances of 297 F g-1 and 284 F g-1 are achieved in basic and acidic electrolytes in 3-electrode system, respectively. This yields an unusually high volumetric capacitance in the range of 600 F cm-3. Furthermore the electrodes demonstrate excellent cycling stability: only 3% capacitance fading is observed after 10,000 cycles at a current density of 4 A g-1. These very attractive electrochemical properties are discussed in the context of the unique structure and chemistry of the material.

Carbonized chicken eggshell membrane with a hierarchical 3D architecture as a high energy supercapacitor electrode

245th National Meeting (2013)

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