Deciphering energy storage mechanisms and pore structure effects in sugarcane bagasse-derived biomass carbon for lithium – ion batteries and supercapacitors

Biomass porous carbon material is a potential electrode candidate. However, it remains challenging to understand the energy storage mechanisms and the influence of pore architecture, which are evaluated holistically in this study. In detail, sugarcane bagasse carbon (SC) materials were synthesized and activated using sodium hydroxide, exhibiting surface areas exceeding 200 m² g⁻¹, making them highly suitable for use in batteries and supercapacitors. Among the tested anodes, SC700 demonstrated outstanding performance, delivering a specific capacity of 369.2 mAh.g⁻¹ at 0.1 A g⁻¹ and retaining 190.2 mAh.g⁻¹ at 5 A g⁻¹. Even after 150 cycles at 0.5 A g⁻¹, SC700 maintained a retention rate of 80.03 %, which is attributed to ion mainly adsorption by the optimal balance of microporous and mesoporous structures. Additionally, SC800 excelled in high-rate cycling, attributed to its macro-porous structure and pseudo-capacitive behavior, which improve ion adsorption and facilitate efficient energy release, making it particularly suitable for powering high-energy devices. These findings provide deeper insights into the structure-property relationship of biomass-derived porous carbon, paving the way for sustainable energy solutions.