Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Materials Science and Nano Engineering Program Postdoctoral Researcher Dr. Ahmet Güngör’s project entitled “From Waste Disposable Face Masks to Activated Carbon: Synthesis of Polypyrrole-Activated Carbon (PPy-AC) Composite Electrodes and Supercapacitor Application” will be supported within the scope of the TÜBİTAK 3501 Career Development Program.
Disposable face masks, which have become an indispensable part of daily life with the COVID-19 pandemic, can cause serious environmental problems due to their non-biodegradable feature. Dr. Ahmet Güngör's project entitled "From Waste Disposable Face Masks to Activated Carbon: Synthesis of Polypyrrole-Activated Carbon (PPy-AC) Composite Electrodes and Supercapacitor Application", which will be supported by TÜBİTAK, aims to produce activated carbon from waste disposable face masks and use this carbon as an electrode in supercapacitors by making it composite with polypyrrole, a conductive polymer. This project within the scope of TÜBİTAK 3501 Career Development Program aims to develop sustainable energy storage solutions.
Contribution to the Development of Sustainable Energy Solutions
Within the scope of the project, waste face masks to be used as carbon precursors will be collected from the Sabancı University campus. The project aims to provide new information to the literature by using the activated carbon produced from waste masks as an electrode material in supercapacitors and examining the effects of salt and acid-based chemical activation agents in this process. In addition, polypyrrole-activated carbon (PPy-AC) composites will be produced for the first time within the scope of this project. This innovative approach will enable the development of new and alternative electrode materials for energy storage systems. As a result, the project aims to provide significant benefits both environmentally and economically. The data to be obtained within the scope of the project will contribute to the development of sustainable energy solutions and make a significant contribution to the literature.
Dr. Melis Özge Alaş from Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM) will take part in the project as a Researcher. Prof. Dr. Emre Erdem from Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences and Center of Excellence for Functional Surfaces and Interfaces for Nanodiagnostics (EFSUN) and Prof. Dr. Ayşe Aytaç from Kocaeli University will serve as Advisors in the project.