ABSTRACT
In this study, carbon material similar to graphene structure (GLS) was prepared from graphite and the carbonization of Turkish human hair fibers (HHC) and utilized for the modification of electrode to evaluate the supercapacitance performance. Electrochemical characterization of the HHC-based GLS (HHC-GLS) modified electrodes have been carried out with cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The morphology and chemical composition of the resultant GLSs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-Ray diffraction spectroscopy, Raman and Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. HHC-GLS displayed a good electrochemical activity than the graphite sourced graphene and possess very similar morphological properties with commercial graphene. Carbonization of the waste hair was carried out at 280°C to improve the pore structure as the first step of GLS synthesis. HHC-GLS modified electrode exhibited the best electrochemical activity and utilized as a charge storage device. The best specific capacitance value was found to be 139.00 F g−1 in 6.00 M KOH(aq) at a scan rate of 100.00 mV s−1 and good stability over 500 cycles. Whereas an energy density of 19.3 Wh kg−1 and power density of 6.95 kW kg−1 were obtained from the electrode when operated in the voltage range from −1.00 to 0.00 V. This work offers a new approach to human hair waste management in terms of promising green energy applications. This study was patented by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (Turkish Patent Institute Application Number: (2019/22841)).
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Notes on contributors
Derya Bal Altuntaş
Derya Bal Altuntaş accepted her license, MSc. and Ph.D. degrees from the Chemistry department. Completed her Ph.D. thesis on sensors. Currently is an Asst. Prof. Dr. in Bioengineering department and studying biosensors.
Sema Aslan
Sema Aslan accepted her license, MSc. and Ph.D. degrees from the Chemistry department (Electroanalytic chemistry). Completed her Ph.D. thesis on microbial fuel cells. Currently is a Research Assist. in the Chemistry department and studying renewable and green energy productions.
Yeşim Akyol
Yeşim Akyol accepted her license Energy Systems Engineering department. Currently works in the energy sector.
Vagif Nevruzoğlu
Vagif Nevruzoğlu accepted his license Physics engineering and Ph.D. degrees from the Physics Institute, Completed his Ph.D. thesis Alternative Energy Sources. Currently is a Prof. Dr. in Energy Systems Engineering department and studying energy.