Cellulose Nanofibers from Seaweeds Used as Material in Creating Biodegradable Paper Supercapacitor

At Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute (GERMI), a group of researchers created the thinnest and fastest biodegradable supercapacitor made from seaweed. The lightweight paper-based supercapacitor charges as fast as 10 seconds and exhibits high tensile strength.

Utilizing the Potential of Marine Macroalgae

The research was led by marine biopolymer scientist Dr. Syed Zaheer Hassan and Dr. Priyank Bhutiya. The cellulose nanofibers were extracted from green seaweed Cheatomorpha antennia which was collected from Porbandar, Gujarat in India. The fibers underwent bleaching treatment and were shaped into architectural structure like that of a spider web.

A very simple and handmade process was used by the researchers in making paper anode. They only have to make sure that the supercapacitor can be used as anode material in devices. To make this possible, the researchers grew the nanowires made from reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) over the cellulose nanofibers using a simple hydrothermal process. Then, it underwent a simple press method to turn the cellulose nanocomposite into a form of paper supercapacitor.

After the biodegradable electrode material is created, its effectiveness is tested in terms of different operational parameters. These include chemical stability, energy storage ability, and durability.

The device developed by Hassan and his team was tested by Dr. Brijesh Tripathi from Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU) by running it up to 6000 cycles. The analytical techniques and tensile tests used in examining the device reveal that the supercapacitor has the same performance at all cycles without degrading. The energy density of the device was recorded at 9.5 Wh/Kg as series resistance at 120 ohms.

The result of the study suggests that a paper anode made from cellulose nanofiber can serve as a component in creating the thinnest paper supercapacitor. The biodegradable supercapacitor from green seaweed can be used in almost any smart electronic gadgets.

The scientists are hopeful that their invention from green seaweed can be applied in various industries that use energy storage domains, such as in electronics and electric vehicle manufacturing. It can also be used in heavy machines, memory back-up system, and air bags. In addition, bringing this project to a larger scale can help in generating economy for the communities in the coastal areas which rely on seaweed cultivation.

Role of Biodegradable Materials in Sustainable Supercapacitors

In the recent years, the impact of climate change due to carbon emission has become a major concern in the scientific community. The potential solution for this problem is by generating clean and sustainable energy, but it depends on the availability of renewable resources. Utilization of energy from these resources can only be made possible when there is efficient storage devices.

Experts in the energy industry express their interest in using batteries and supercapacitors, but the rising demand for smart electronics leads to the unwanted accumulation of toxic wastes. Because of this, researchers are trying to look for affordable and environment-friendly components.

Biodegradable nanomaterials have been shown to be effective components of energy storage devices. Because the production and recycling of these electrodes are based on biodegradable substances, then they almost leave zero waste in the environment.