Study of electrochemical performance of activated carbon derived from <i>Acacia catechu</i> (khair) seeds as electrode materials for energy harvesting application

Abstract The escalating global energy crisis, with increasing demand for technological advancement, necessitates not only the exploration of new energy sources but also the innovation of energy storage devices. This research has been designed to address the imperative of advancing energy storage technologies that are compatible with the present context. Herein, activated carbon has been synthesized for supercapacitor materials from the seeds of Acacia catechu through a series of steps of precarbonization at 250 °C, activation with zinc chloride, and carbonization at 400 °C and 600 °C. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and Barret–Joyner–Halenda analysis revealed higher micro and meso‐porosity exhibiting a specific surface area of 757.125 m 2 g −1 for activated carbon derived at 600 °C (ASACZ‐6). X‐ray diffraction pattern, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the sample. Raman analysis indicated the success of graphitization of carbon material at elevated temperature. A three‐electrode system was used to study the electrochemical performance of the material. The ASACZ‐6 exhibited a gravimetric capacitance of 127.60 F g −1 at 1 A g −1 , indicating its superior suitability for supercapacitor applications. These findings underscore the potential of utilizing A. catechu seed‐derived activated carbon as an effective material for advanced energy storage systems.