Demineralization\nof a Carbon Material Derived from\nPalm Kernel Shells as a Process for the Enhancement of the Electrochemical\nPerformance of Lithium–Sulfur Cells

Carbon materials derived from biomass have been widely\nused in\nLi–S batteries; however, the mineral matter present in the\nbiomass could impact the properties of the carbons and affect the\nelectrochemical performance. In this study, the removal of mineral\nmatter from palm kernel shells is reported to identify the effect\nof minerals on the physicochemical properties of the derived activated\ncarbon and correlate them to the electrochemical performance in Li–S\nbatteries. The content of minerals such as silicon, iron, and potassium\nwas decreased by acid washing. The textural and conductive properties\nof activated carbon were increased by the absence of minerals. Electrochemical\nresults reveal that the demineralized sample used as a sulfur host\ncan increase the capacity for high charge and discharge rates by 23%. Hence, the removal of mineral matter\nin the biomass is an important step to consider for the application\nof activated carbons as sulfur hosts in Li–S batteries.