Open AccessEffective Utilization of Waste Red Mud for High Performance Supercapacitor Electrodes
Author(s) -
Bhattacharya Gourav,
Fishlock Sam Jeffery,
Roy Joy Sankar,
Pritam Anurag,
Banerjee Debosmita,
Deshmukh Sujit,
Ghosh Subhasis,
McLaughlin James A.,
Roy Susanta Sinha
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
global challenges
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2056-6646
DOI - 10.1002/gch2.201800066
Subject(s) - supercapacitor , materials science , electrolyte , electrode , ball mill , capacitance , electrochemistry , anode , energy storage , potassium hydroxide , nanoparticle , chemical engineering , oxide , nanotechnology , metallurgy , chemistry , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
Abstract In recent years, metal oxide‐based, inexpensive, stable electrodes are being explored as a potent source of high performance, sustainable supercapacitors. Here, the employment of industrial waste red mud as a pseudocapacitive electrode material is reported. Mechanical milling is used to produce uniform red mud nanoparticles, which are rich in hematite (Fe 2 O 3 ), and lower amounts of other metal oxides. A comprehensive supercapacitive study of the electrode is presented as a function of ball‐milling time up to 15 h. Ten‐hour ball‐milled samples exhibit the highest pseudocapacitive behavior with a specific capacitance value of ≈317 F g −1 , at a scan rate of 10 mV s −1 in 6 m aqueous potassium hydroxide electrolyte solution. The modified electrode shows an extraordinary retention of ≈97% after 5000 cycles. A detailed quantitative electrochemical analysis is carried out to understand the charge storage mechanism at the electrode–electrolyte interface. The formation of uniform nanoparticles and increased electrode stability are correlated with the high performance. This work presents two significant benefits for the environment; in energy storage, it shows the production of a stable and efficient supercapacitor electrode, and in waste management with new applications for the treatment of red mud.