High-reversible capacity leather waste activated carbon material for Li-ion hybrid rechargeable batteries

Abstract

Leather industry generate substantial amounts of primary and secondary waste. Our research proposes a sustainable solution of recycling leather waste through pyrolysis. Thus, two-stage pyrolysis process produce leather waste activated carbon (LWAC) material used for fabrication of anode materials for Li-Ion rechargeable hybrid batteries (LiHBs). The biochar physico-chemical and electrochemical features have been investigated. First galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD) cycle at 0.12C exhibits highest specific discharge capacity (SDC) of about 190 mAh g−1 due to solid electrolyte interface (SEI) formation. Moreover, short-term cycling process at various C - rates (0.12C – 2C) shows high reversible capacity due to enhanced charge transfer kinetics. The long-term cycling performance at 0.1C shows an initial variation, a steady increase and stabilization after the 80th cycle of GCD by suppression of oxidation processes at the SEI interface and formation of topological defects in structure of LWAC. Coulombic efficiency exhibits an exceptional value of 100 % or higher throughout the entire cell life-cycle closely linked to capacity reversibility. This indicates superior charge storage performance of LWAC, attributed to the enhanced charge storage capacity of carbonaceous materials at low potentials.