Effects of Ionic Liquid and Biomass Sources on Carbon Nanotube Physical and Electrochemical Properties

The ongoing research toward meeting global energy demands requires novel materials from abundant renewable resources. This work involves an investigation on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs) synthesized relatively low-cost and readily available biomass as precursors their use electrodes for supercapacitors. influence of the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, or its combination with either sugarcane bagasse cellulose (IL-CNTs, ILBag-CNTs, ILCel-CNTs, respectively), in synthesis N-CNTs resultant effect physical electrochemical properties was studied. Systematic characterizations employing transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), elemental nitrogen sorption cyclic voltammetry, impedance were performed. TEM data analysis showed that mean outer diameters decreased, order IL-CNTs > ILBag-CNTs ILCel-CNTs. possess only pyridinic pyrrolic nitrogen-doping moieties. content is lowest highest are mesoporous surface areas range 21–52 m2 g−1. ILCel-CNTs had specific capacitance 30 F g−1, while has least, 10 source beneficial tuning physicochemical such size N-CNTs, content, ultimately capacitance, leading to excellent applications.