Optimization of Synthesis of Charcoal Carbon Derived from Bamboo to be Applied as an electrode of Super Capacitor Electrodes

Abstract

Optimization of synthesis of charcoal carbon (CC) derived from bamboo for supercapacitor electrodes was investigated. The synthesis of charcoal carbon from bamboo consists of 3 steps: firstly, bamboo powder was synthesized at 500 ºC for 90 minutes. Second step, bamboo powder was activated by nitric acid (HNO₃) at various concentrated in 0.1, 1 and 10 molars, respectively for 3 hours at 300 ºC and third step, bamboo powder was activated by 1 molar in sodium hydroxide (NaOH). After that it was washed and dried at 100 ºC for overnight. Bamboo powder was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) and electrochemical properties. One molar potassium hydroxide (KOH) was used as electrolyte. At 1 molar of HNO₃, a high specific capacitance of 2.97 F/g was obtained. The capacitance improvement was attributed to the increase in carboxyl group.