Abstract:
Supercapacitors are renewable energy storage devices consisting of electrodes, electrolytes,
current collectors and separators. Electrodes are one of the most important components in a
supercapacitorbecause they are made of nanoscale materials that have a high surface area and
porosity. This study used the leaves of the pandanus tectorius fiber with the addition of 10%
and 15% carbon nanotubes with respective sample codes, namely DPD-0, DPD-10, and
DPD-15. The manufacture of carbon electrodes was carried out by several processes, namely
pra-carbonization process, chemical activation with KOH activator and addition of carbon
nanotube, carbonization process using N2 gas at 600°C and physical activation using CO2 gas
at 800°C. The highest density shrinkage value is owned by the DPD-15 sample, which is
56,28%. The DPD carbon electrode contains functional groups O-H, C-H, C≡C, C=C, C-O
amd has a semicrystalline structure characterized by the presence of peaks (002) and (100) at
angles of 24°-25° and 44°-45°. The nanofiber structure DPD-15 more than DPD-0 with a
carbon element 78,32% and oksigen element 16,25%. Electrochemical analysis of
supercapacitor cells using the Cycliv voltammetry and Galvanostatic Charge-Dischage
methods with 1 M H2SO4 electrolyte resulted in the highest specific capacitance values
belonging to the DPD-15 sample of 369,77 F/g and 321,33 F/g. Based on the physical and
electrochemical properties of DPD biomass-based supercapacitor cell, the addition of carbon
nanotube to the carbon matrix might improve the performance of supercapacitor cell
electrodes.
