•  
  •  
 

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Abstract

The performance of activated carbon (AC)-based supercapacitor electrodes is often limited by poor electrical conductivity, prompting interest in conductive additives such as carbon black (CB). This study explores the transformative potential of CB as a conductive additive in AC-based supercapacitor electrodes and systematically investigates CB mass loadings of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%, using styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) as the binder. The findings in this study demonstrate that 10% CB is the optimal loading, offering a balanced performance in terms of structure, morphology, and capacitance. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals a distinct structural evolution at 10% CB, characterized by the exclusive emergence of a (100) peak at 43° 2θ, which indicates the formation of dense graphene-like layers and enhanced π-π electron delocalization. This promotes the formation of robust conductive networks, reducing electrode resistivity by 72%. Morphological and specific surface area characterization confirms the uniform particle distribution of an ultra-thin electrode AC-10% CB (26.5 μm) with a high surface area of 851.84 m²/g; this maximizes ion-accessible active sites and minimizes diffusion pathways. These combined effects result in a specific capacitance of 61.33 F/g, representing a 12% improvement over the pristine electrode (56.36 F/g) and 89.87% capacitance retention after 50 cycles. These results highlight the importance of optimizing CB loading: Lower concentrations (<10%) fail to form conductive pathways, while higher concentrations (15– 20%) lead to agglomeration and pore blockage. This study also provides valuable insights for the rational design of efficient and scalable electrode materials.

Publisher

Universitas Negeri Malang

First Page

268

Last Page

280

Download

Share

COinS