We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Enhancing the Capacitance of Flexible Supercapacitors by Utilizing Novel Li- and Co-Based Electrolytes Synthesized from Spent Lithium-Ion Battery Electrodes
AI summary Read the abstract
This study demonstrates a method for transforming recycled PET plastic into electrode materials that enhance the energy storage capacity of flexible supercapacitors. Researchers processed waste PET into carbon-based structures with high surface area, which improved the electrochemical performance of the resulting devices. The approach offers a dual benefit of diverting plastic waste from landfills while producing functional components for wearable and portable electronics.
Abstract To reduce the environmental damage caused by lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and plastic waste, this study focused on the synthesis of Li-based (AME) and Co-based (PURE) electrolytes using electrodes recycled from spent LIBs obtained from cell phones. In addition, graphene (Gr) based supercapacitor (SC) electrodes were developed using recycled high-density polyethylene as the supporting material. First, reference SCs were made with AME (Gr-AME-SC) and PURE (Gr-PURE-SC) electrolytes, which exhibited specific capacitance/energy–density of 661.0 F g −1 /132.2 W·h kg −1 and 426.1 F g −1 /85.2 W·h kg −1 , respectively. Next, the TiO 2 /MoS 2 (TMS) composite was integrated into the SC electrodes, resulting in a 52.5% increase in specific capacitance for the SC fabricated with AME electrolyte (Gr/TMS-AME-SC) and a 20% increase in capacitance occurred for the device with PURE electrolyte (Gr/TMS-PURE-SC), respectively. Notably, the Gr/TMS-AME-SC device, which used the AME electrolyte, exhibited a specific capacitance that was 97% higher than that of the Gr/TMS-PURE-SC device, which employed the PURE electrolyte. Furthermore, both the Gr/TMS-AME-SC and Gr/TMS-PURE-SC devices exhibited remarkable electrochemical stability, attributed to the high decomposition voltages of the AME (1.51 V) and PURE (1.48 V) electrolytes. Additionally, analyses performed using UV–Vis, Raman, and XPS spectroscopies revealed that oxygen vacancies, together with Ti 3+ /Ti 4+ , Mo 4+ /Mo 6+ , and S 2− /S 6+ species, act as redox centers responsible for charge storage by redox reactions in the SC electrodes. Moreover, this study revealed that exposing the SC made with AME electrolyte to sunlight for 2 h enhanced the capacitance to the ultimate value of 1361.8 F g −1 . Hence, SCs studied here could help to reduce the environmental pollution because they were fabricated with materials recycled from spent LIBs.
More Papers Like This
Upcycling of polyethylene terephthalate plastic waste to microporous carbon structure for energy storage
AI summary Read the abstract
This study upcycled waste polyethylene terephthalate bottles into electrochemical carbon material using electrospinning, producing a mixed amorphous carbon and reduced graphene oxide material suitable for double-layer supercapacitors. Electrochemical characterization confirmed combined double-layer and pseudo-capacitance behavior with a self-strengthening effect, demonstrating an environmentally and economically advantageous pathway for PET waste valorization.
Green polymer electrolyte and activated charcoal-based supercapacitor for energy harvesting application: Electrochemical characteristics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a green polymer battery component using chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol as alternatives to conventional plastic materials, motivated by concerns about microplastic pollution from electronic waste. While primarily an engineering study, the work directly addresses how plastic components in electronics contribute to the growing microplastic problem in oceans. Developing biodegradable alternatives for electronic components could help reduce the flow of microplastics from discarded devices into the environment.
Increasing the capacitance of flexible supercapacitors by adding spongy-like CNTs on their electrodes and application of CNTs to remove oil/microplastics from tap water
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used spongy carbon nanotubes to enhance the capacitance of graphene-based flexible supercapacitors, and separately demonstrated that the same CNT materials can remove oil and microplastics from tap water through adsorption, suggesting dual energy-storage and remediation applications.
EDLC performance of ammonium salt-green polymer electrolyte sandwiched in metal-free electrodes
AI summary Read the abstract
This paper is not substantively about microplastic pollution research; it describes the fabrication of a green energy storage device (electrical double-layer capacitor) using bio-derived polymer electrolytes and microbial cellulose electrodes, briefly mentioning that microplastic waste from electronics is an environmental motivation for the green approach.
Upcycling plastic waste into electrode materials for energy storage applications
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed approaches for upcycling plastic waste into electrode materials for energy storage applications, finding that discarded plastics including polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET can be converted through pyrolysis and chemical activation into carbon-based electrodes for supercapacitors and batteries, addressing both plastic pollution and energy storage challenges simultaneously.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.