Investigation of Cellulose Acetate as a Functional Binder and Its Impact on the Electrochemical Properties of Activated Carbon-Based Supercapacitors

Abstract With the increasing demand for flexible, stable, safe, and cost-effective supercapacitors, the integration of binding polymers into supercapacitor electrodes has become a key challenge to enhance device performance and sustainability. This study focuses on the development of activated carbon-based electrodes using varying masses of cellulose acetate binder (0.025, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, and 0.15 g). The electrode structure and morphology were analyzed using XRD, FTIR, SEM, and BET techniques, while electrochemical performance was evaluated through galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). XRD analysis revealed an amorphous structure characteristic of activated carbon. BET measurements indicated a surface area of 921.83 m 2 /g and a pore size of 3.3 nm for the electrodes with cellulose acetate binder. The AC/CB/CA 0.075 electrode exhibited a specific capacitance of 51.58 F/g, an energy density of 1.40 Wh/kg, and a power density of 49.83 W/kg, with a retention rate of 91.66% after 1000 cycles. These findings demonstrate the potential of cellulose acetate as an effective binder for supercapacitors.