Biopolymer-based Green Supercapacitors: A Critical Review

Abstract

Supercapacitors can store higher energy with the ability of fast charging and need a sophisticated low-cost innovative material, where biosource-derived carbon fits as an efficient electrode material. Thus, this chapter gives a critical description of carbon material preparation and its use in green energy as supercapacitor electrodes. Hence, the biopolymers derived from plant sources containing chemical components could effectively yield the desired carbon material. The considerable usage advantages of biosource-derived carbon materials are due to various properties like wider range access to derive carbon, higher porosity, ecofriendliness, lower weight, and cost effectiveness, providing the required momentum gain in its implementation. Further, the biopolymer source-derived carbon exhibits unique morphological, compositional, and electrochemical properties. Thus, this chapter emphasizes (i) the broad concept about biopolymers, (ii) sources of biopolymers and their carbon conversion and application towards supercapacitors, (iii) various synthesis processes used to obtain biopolymer-derived carbon, (iv) recent advantages in biopolymer-derived carbon material towards supercapacitor electrode application, and (v) challenges and prospects with biopolymer-derived carbon for green energy. Hence, this chapter provides valuable interest to the scientific community in designing and developing low-cost, efficient green electrode materials for supercapacitor applications.