Communication—Sustainable Starfish-Derived N-Doped Porous Carbon for High-Performance Electric Double Layer Capacitors

Abstract

Electric double layer capacitors can be used in broad applications, including portable electronics, high power tools, and transportation. However, such systems require more sustainable materials and a boosting of their electrochemical performance. In this study, starfish, as an unusable destroyer of marine ecosystems, are transformed into functional nitrogen-doped carbon materials with high porosity toward high-performance EDLC electrodes. The synthesized starfish-derived carbon exhibits a surface area of up to 3122 m2 g−1, a specific capacitance of up to 295.7 F g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1, and capacitance retention of 81.5% upon an increase in current density from 0.5 to 10 A g−1.