Electrochemical Application of Activated Carbon Derived from End-of-Life Tyres: A Technological Review

Abstract

Tyre waste is a common form of non-degradable polymer-based solid waste. This solid waste can be effectively managed by converting it into char through the pyrolysis process and then further converting the char into activated carbon (AC) through physical and chemical activation processes. Tyre-derived activated carbon (TDAC) has versatile applications, such as its use as an absorber, catalyst, and electrode material, among others. This study aims to review the electrochemical properties of TDAC. This study employed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta analysis) bibliographic search methodology, with a specific focus on the application of TDAC in a wide variety of energy storage devices, including lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, potassium-ion batteries, and supercapacitors. In several experimental studies, TDAC was utilised as an electrode in numerous energy devices due to its high specific capacitance properties. The study found that both activation processes can produce AC with a surface area ranging from 400 to 900 m2/g. However, the study also discovered that the surface morphology of TDAC influenced the electrochemical behaviours of the synthesised electrodes.