The Impact of Freezing Treatment on Physicochemical Characteristics of Oil Palm Kernel Shell-Derived Activated Carbon
Hazra Yuvendius1, Rudy Setiabudy1, Ariono Verdianto2, Chairul Hudaya1

Dept Electrical Engineering, University of Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia
Production Division, PT PLN (Persero), Bandung, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract. Advancing high-performance, sustainable electrode materials is crucial for next-generation lithium-ion capacitors (LICs). This study presents an effective and simple strategy of applying freeze pretreatment at -60 Derajat C to biomass-derived activated carbon. Structural, physisorption, and electrochemical analyses reveal that freezing significantly restructures the pore structure of the activated carbon, leading to enhanced microporosity (increasing from 45.3 persen to 57.1persen) and a higher specific surface area (686.73 m kuadrat per gram). X-ray diffraction (XRD) investigation shows enhanced graphitic arrangement, while (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) BET and isothermal statistics verify the shift toward more confined and accessible pores. These physical modifications directly translate into superior electrochemical performance of the activated carbon (AC), as demonstrated by increased capacitance and improved ion transport, as validated by cyclic voltammetry (CV). These results affirm that strategic thermal control during synthesis is significantly improved AC properties, providing a practical and scalable method for optimizing carbon-based LIC electrodes. This work exemplifies the transformative potential of process refinement in advancing energy storage technologies with real practical applications.

Keywords: freezing, palm kernel shell, activated carbon, electrochemical performancefreezing, palm kernel shell, activated carbon, electrochemical performance

Topic: Material Physics