Lignin-hydrothermal fabrication of 3D hierarchical porous carbon for energy storage application
Johnson Kehinde Abifarin, Fredah Batale Abifarin, Joseph Chukwuka Ofodu
Abstract
In this groundbreaking study, the Taguchi-Probability method is employed to optimize the energy storage performance of porous hierarchical carbon (PHC) by investigating lignin doping and controlling hydrothermal synthesis conditions. The findings indicate that optimal lignin contents range from 63 to 70 % carbon, 0.75–1.0 % nitrogen, <2.0 % sulfur, and < 30 % oxygen, with varying hydrogen percentages. Ideal hydrothermal conditions involve a temperature of 220 °C, duration of 18 h, concentration of 80 g/L, and pH of 4. Remarkably, pH has the most significant impact (33.30 %) on energy storage enhancement, followed by reaction time (24.73 %), concentration, and temperature. These results highlight the pivotal role of hydrothermal conditions in enhancing PHC's energy storage capabilities, offering promising avenues for sustainable energy storage solutions.