Versatile N,S,O tri-heteroatom doped porous biocarbons for high-performance supercapacitors and zinc ion capacitors
- 1Global Innovative Centre for Advanced Nanomaterials (GICAN), School of Science, College of Science, Engineering, and Environment (CESE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308 Australia
- 2Sir Ian Potter NanoBioSensing Facility, NanoBiotechnology Research Laboratory, School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
- 3Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sydney, Sydney 2050, Australia
Abstract
Porous biocarbons possess special features, such as well-developed and tunable porosity, and adjustable surface chemistry, which make them standout candidates for supercapacitors. Heteroatom doping, such as sulfur (S), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O), further enhances energy storage capacity and stability. Herein, we present a versatile method for synthesizing in situ heteroatom-doped porous carbons by integrating solid-state activation and thiourea doping. Material optimization was achieved by varying the amount of thiourea used for doping during activation. This approach successfully incorporates multiple heteroatoms, including N, S, and O, into the carbon framework, yielding an optimized, high-surface-area (3494 m² g⁻¹) and large-pore-volume (1.86 cm³ g⁻¹) material, THBC-2. These features contribute to an exceptional 3E capacitance (373 F g⁻¹/0.5 A g⁻¹) in 3 M KOH. Additionally, THBC-2 was evaluated as a zinc-ion capacitor (ZIC) cathode, achieving impressive energy cum power densities (101 Wh kg⁻¹ and 399 W kg⁻¹) and good cycling stability. Ex situ characterization during charge/discharge processes provided valuable insights into the formation and dissolution of intermediate phases, which influence the stability and performance of the ZIC system. The materials presented demonstrate strong potential for use in supercapacitors and can be extended to other electrochemical applications.
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BibTeX
@article{ruban2026versatile,
title = {{Versatile N,S,O tri-heteroatom doped porous biocarbons for high-performance supercapacitors and zinc ion capacitors}},
author = {Ajanya Maria Ruban and Gurwinder Singh and Rohan Bahadur and Sanje Mahasivam and Vipul Bansal and Tung Tran and Antonio Tricoli and Ajayan Vinu},
journal = {Nano Energy},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.112097},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.112097},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Versatile N,S,O tri-heteroatom doped porous biocarbons for high-performance supercapacitors and zinc ion capacitors
AU - Ajanya Maria Ruban
AU - Gurwinder Singh
AU - Rohan Bahadur
AU - Sanje Mahasivam
AU - Vipul Bansal
AU - Tung Tran
AU - Antonio Tricoli
AU - Ajayan Vinu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/05
JO - Nano Energy
DO - 10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.112097
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2026.112097
AB - Porous biocarbons possess special features, such as well-developed and tunable porosity, and adjustable surface chemistry, which make them standout candidates for supercapacitors. Heteroatom doping, such as sulfur (S), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O), further enhances energy storage capacity and stability. Herein, we present a versatile method for synthesizing in situ heteroatom-doped porous carbons by integrating solid-state activation and thiourea doping. Material optimization was achieved by varying the amount of thiourea used for doping during activation. This approach successfully incorporates multiple heteroatoms, including N, S, and O, into the carbon framework, yielding an optimized, high-surface-area (3494 m² g⁻¹) and large-pore-volume (1.86 cm³ g⁻¹) material, THBC-2. These features contribute to an exceptional 3E capacitance (373 F g⁻¹/0.5 A g⁻¹) in 3 M KOH. Additionally, THBC-2 was evaluated as a zinc-ion capacitor (ZIC) cathode, achieving impressive energy cum power densities (101 Wh kg⁻¹ and 399 W kg⁻¹) and good cycling stability. Ex situ characterization during charge/discharge processes provided valuable insights into the formation and dissolution of intermediate phases, which influence the stability and performance of the ZIC system. The materials presented demonstrate strong potential for use in supercapacitors and can be extended to other electrochemical applications.
SN - 2211-2855
SN - 2211-3282
ER -