Synthesis and Characterization of Activated Carbon–Zn‐MOF Composite Derived From Waste Tyres for Supercapacitor Applications

ABSTRACT A porous carbon material was produced from waste tyres and woody biomass through microwave‐assisted pyrolysis followed by KOH activation. A hybrid AC–Zn‐MOF composite was subsequently prepared by dispersing a solvothermally synthesized Zn‐based metal–organic framework (Zn‐MOF) within the activated‐carbon matrix. Structural, chemical, and morphological characterization using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDAX) confirmed the coexistence of the activated‐carbon and Zn‐MOF phases in the composite. N 2 adsorption–desorption analysis showed that the specific surface area increased from 8.59 m 2 g − 1 for AC to 101.83 m 2 g − 1 for AC–Zn‐MOF. Electrochemical evaluation in a three‐electrode configuration using 3 M KOH through cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) demonstrated improved charge‐storage performance after Zn‐MOF incorporation. The AC–Zn‐MOF electrode exhibited a specific capacitance of approximately 250–350 F g − 1 , while its equivalent series resistance was approximately 5 Ω, compared with about 12 Ω for AC. The enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic contribution of electric double‐layer capacitance from the porous carbon matrix and additional charge‐storage contributions from the Zn‐MOF phase. Overall, this study demonstrates a sustainable approach for converting waste tyres into value‐added AC–Zn‐MOF hybrid electrode materials for supercapacitor applications.