EVALUATION OF KOH ACTIVATOR CONCENTRATION VARIATION ON THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SUPERCAPASITOR ELECTRODES FROM CARBON ACTIVATED OF COCOA PODS Yuli Yetri, Mursida, Dahyunir Dahlan, Muldarisnur
Politeknik Negeri Padang
Kampus Limau Manis, Padang
Abstract
The study of making activated carbon from the cocoa pods which will be used as supercapacitor electrodes has been successfully made with KOH activators of 0.3 M and 0.4 M at 7000C. Activated carbon electrodes are made by a combination of chemical activation and physical activation methods. Physical properties were tested by measuring the density, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The technique of preparing carbon electrodes starts from pre-carbonization, milling, chemical activation, pellet making, carbonization, and physical activation. Analysis of dimensions, and density in the manufacture of carbon electrodes showed the mass, diameter, thickness and density of the electrodes decreased along with the addition of KOH concentration from 0.3 M to 0.4 M. XRD measurement data obtained values of 2θ in the range of 23,569o-24,747o for the reflection plane 002 and 44,634o-44,781o for the reflection plane 100. X-ray diffraction curve analysis shows that the sample 0.4 M 700oC has a smaller microcrystalline dimension (Lc) value and lattice distance than the 0.3 M 700oC sample, so it can be indicated that the surface area of the sample is 0.4 M 700oC greater than the 0.3M 700oC sample. With an increase in the surface area of the sample, there is an indication that the activated carbon of cocoa pods can be used as a supercapacitor electrode as a renewable energy source.
