Synergetıc Effects Of Nano-Sized Zinc Oxide Obtained From Various Sources And Carbonaceous Materials In Energy Storage Systems

Official URL: https://risc01.sabanciuniv.edu/record=b3400644

In recent years, the escalating global demand for sustainable and efficient energy storage solutions has propelled supercapacitors to the forefront of research and development in the field of advanced energy storage systems. With their unique ability to deliver rapid charge and discharge cycles, coupled with an extended operational lifespan, supercapacitors represent a promising alternative to conventional energy storage technologies. Investigation in this thesis includes Zinc Oxide (ZnO) supercapacitors, synthesized through the sol-gel method which have undergone comprehensive testing to evaluate their structural integrity and electrochemical properties, providing crucial insights into their performance and potential applicability in advanced energy storage systems. Morphological characteristics of the ZnO powders produced were investigated through X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses. Among the nanoparticles, ZA/HBA exhibited the highest crystallinity at 84.2%. Defect structures in the nanoparticles were identified via Photoluminescence Spectroscopy (PL) and analyzed using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (EPR) for both intrinsic and extrinsic defects in synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles. Specific capacitance evaluations, spanning a 10mV/s to 200mV/s scan rate using a Potentiostat, demonstrated superior electrochemical properties in asymmetrical supercapacitors, where sol-gel-produced zinc oxide and active carbon served as electrodes, compared to symmetrical counterparts. Values for specific capacitance, energy density, and power density achieved notable levels, reaching up to 92.8 F g-1, 12.9 Wh kg-1, and 4231.6 kW kg-1, respectively. These results exhibit significant potential compared to existing literature, indicating the possibility of further improvements by introducing additional electrochemically active materials on the opposing side of the electrode in asymmetrical supercapacitors.