Novel biomass-derived smoke-like carbon as a supercapacitor electrode material

In this present work, smoke-like carbon was successfully fabricated from a bio-waste fungal substrate crude polysaccharide for the first time. The as-prepared products possess smoke-like structures, ultra-high specific surface area (S(BET): 2160 m(2) g(−1)) and a high content of micropores (microporous surface area of 60%, with a nanopore size of 0.70 nm), which can increase the specific capacitance, representing a wonderful structure for electrochemical energy storage devices. The as-prepared sample displayed an excellent specific capacitance of 152 F g(−1) at 5 A g(−1) in the three-electrode configuration and exhibited maximal densities of 6.8–10.2 W h kg(−1) under power outputs of 253.4–24.3 kW kg(−1). We believe that this work demonstrates a simple, green and low-cost route by using agricultural residue to prepare applicable carbon materials for use in energy storage devices.