Production of Carbon Nanomaterials in a New Way and Usability in Energy Storage Systems

In energy storage applications, a combination of activated carbon and various metallic materials is utilized to initiate chemical reactions alongside carbon. This study employed the co-precipitation synthesis technique to generate zinc hydroxide nitrate, with the introduction of nitrobenzoic acid as a carbon source between its layers. Subsequently, the resulting material underwent heat treatment at 700 degrees Celsius in a neutral nitrogen atmosphere, resulting in the creation of both carbon materials and metal oxides. The end phase involved acid washing the product to eliminate the metal oxides. This process yielded carbon materials characterized by a substantial surface area and notable porosity. These attributes, combined with the method’s simplicity, cost-effectiveness, utilization of non-toxic raw materials, capacity for substantial carbon material loading, and potential for producing large volumes of porous carbon, contribute to reduced costs, heightened efficiency, and the potential commercialization of energy storage devices. Furthermore, the derived carbon material’s suitability as an electrocatalyst in polymer fuel cell cathodes was explored. The sample exhibited an open circuit potential (OCV) of 997 mV, an ideal value closely aligned with the theoretical oxygen standard potential (approximately 1.2 V). Additionally, cyclic voltametric analysis of the prepared carbon affirmed its electroactivity.