Impact of Acetate‐Based Hydrogel Electrolyte on Electrical Performance and Stability of Eco‐Friendly Supercapacitors

Abstract

AbstractThe electrochemical characteristics and stability of hydrogel‐based environmentally friendly supercapacitors employing sodium acetate as salt have been investigated. To ensure the overall sustainability of the devices, chitosan (a biomaterial from renewable resources) and activated carbon (derived from coconut shells) have been used as a binder and filler within the electrodes, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge, and impedance spectroscopy measurements have been performed to compare the electrochemical properties of the fabricated devices. Compared to reference electrolytes containing NaCl, the utilization of sodium acetate exhibited enhancements in energy performance and stability up to 50000 cycles. The most efficient device has been delivered approximately 10.6 Wh/kg of energy at a high‐power density of about 3940 W/kg. A comprehensive investigation of the electrochemical performances has been carried out, considering both faradaic and non‐faradaic processes as charge storage mechanisms within the devices. A model has been proposed to describe the storage mechanisms and to provide insights into the ageing phenomena observed during the cycling procedure.