Scientists build supercapacitor based on hemp fibers

American researchers have developed a method to build a supercapacitor based on nanolayers of hemp fibres. The natural material would be a good alternative to graphene.

Although graphene is an excellent raw material for the manufacture of supercapacitors, the production of graphene is complex and therefore expensive. American researchers looked at alternatives to graphene and came up with hemp. According to the scientists, nanolayers can be extracted from the bark of hemp, which is normally regarded as waste, in a simple and cheap way.

The hemp fibers are heated at 176 degrees for 24 hours in the method. The heating process creates extremely thin carbon layers. These can be used in supercapacitors as an electrode, while an ionic liquid acts as an electrolyte.

The scientists claim that such a supercapacitor has a higher energy density than regular capacitors and that they can also operate in a wider temperature range. The energy density would be up to 12Wh per kilo. Ultimately, the scientists hope that the developed supercapacitor can be widely used, for example in electric cars.