Preparation of nitrogen-doped activated carbon from palm oil empty fruit bunches for electrodes in electric double-layer capacitance-type supercapacitors: effect of pyrolysis temperature

Abstract In this study, activated carbon was synthesized from palm oil empty fruit bunches through two different carbonization and activation processes and was used as carbon-based electrodes for supercapacitor. The activated carbon was produced by a combination of the hydrothermal and pyrolysis methods using melamine as a nitrogen source dopant and potassium chloride as an activating agent. The effect of pyrolysis temperature on the crystalline structure, crystallite size, functional groups, and surface characteristics of the resulting activated carbon, which was applied as electrodes in an electric double-layer capacitor. The performance of the activated carbon-based electrodes was evaluated, suggesting that activated carbon prepared by pyrolysis at 950°C showed the highest specific capacitance of 389.122 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g with energy and power densities of 13.511 and 125 W/kg, respectively. Overall results suggest that palm oil empty fruit bunches are promising cellulosic sources in synthesizing activated carbon-based electrodes for supercapacitors.