Waste-derived Carbon-based Materials: The Backbone of Supercapacitors

The escalating energy crisis and environmental challenges necessitate sustainable and efficient solutions, particularly in energy storage technologies. Carbon-based materials such as fullerenes, carbon dots, graphene, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have demonstrated exceptional potential due to their superior electrical conductivity and structural properties. However, their widespread application is hindered by high production costs and dependence on non-renewable sources. To address these limitations, waste-derived carbon-based materials (WDCMs) have emerged as an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative. This chapter explores the innovative transformation of agricultural, polymeric, animal, and industrial waste into high-performance carbon materials. These WDCMs exhibit desirable characteristics, including high surface area, tunable porosity, and excellent electrical conductivity, making them highly suitable for energy storage applications, particularly in supercapacitors. Beyond their environmental benefits, WDCMs offer a scalable approach to waste reduction while delivering performance comparable to conventional carbon materials. This chapter also discusses advancements in optimizing WDCMs for supercapacitor applications, highlighting their potential to contribute to sustainable energy storage solutions and a circular economy. Despite their promise, challenges such as reproducibility, large-scale manufacturing, and commercial integration remain. Future research must focus on overcoming these obstacles to fully realize the potential of WDCMs in next-generation energy storage technologies.