| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
MS&T24: Materials Science & Technology
|
| Symposium
|
Energy Materials for Sustainable Development
|
| Presentation Title |
Upcycling Linear Low Density Polyethylene Waste into Graphene for High Mass Loading Supercapacitors |
| Author(s) |
Yuan Gao, Ngoc Tien Huynh, Ki-Joong Kim, Congjun Wang, Christopher S. Matranga, Viet Hung Pham |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Yuan Gao |
| Abstract Scope |
Polyethylene is notoriously difficult to upcycle because it decomposes into light gases at approximately 350-400 °C which prevents processing it at higher temperatures to convert it into electrode materials. We address this challenge by using an air-based, thermos-oxidative process, which heats linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) just below the decomposition point to initiate oxidation and cross-linking of LLDPE alkyl chains. These molecular transformations allow LLDPE to be graphenized at 950 °C without decomposing. The LLDPE-derived graphene (LLDPE-G) has a BET specific surface area up to 1,800 m2/g and Raman ID/IG ratio of 0.85. When used as electrode material for a symmetric supercapacitor with the 1 M H2SO4 electrolyte, LLDPE-G possesses an specific capacitance up to 175 F/g at mass loading of 20 mg/cm2, yielding an areal capacitance of 3.5 F/cm2. The cycling stability with capacitance retention of 95.8% after 100,000 cycles at high current density of 4.0 A/g. |