Conversion of N-doped biochar from carotenoid-extracted Tetraselmis suecica and its application to produce supercapacitors

Microalgae are one of the promising feedstocks for biorefinery, contributing significantly to net-zero emissions through carbon capture and utilization. However, the disposal of microalgal byproducts from the manufacturing process causes additional environmental pollution, thus, a new application strategy is required. In this study, the Tetraselmis suecica byproduct from the carotenoid extraction process was carbonized and converted into biochar. The converted biochar was proved to be nitrogen-doped biochar (NDB), up to 4.69%, with a specific surface area of 206.59 m2/g and was used as an electrode for a supercapacitor. The NDB electrode (NDB-E) in half-cell showed a maximum specific capacitance of 191 F/g. In a full-cell test, the NDB-E exhibited a high energy density of 7.396 Wh/kg and a high-power density of 18,100 W/kg, and maintained specific capacity of 95.5% after charge and discharge of 10,000 cycles. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that the carotenoid-extracted microalgal byproducts are a useful resource for the supercapacitor production. This approach is the first to convert T. suecica into active materials for supercapacitors.