Applied Chemical Engineering

Physicochemical Characterization of KOH-Activated Rice Husk–Derived Carbon toward Sustainable Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Bunyamin

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Kampus Sekaran Gunungpati, Semarang 50229, Indonesia

Ima Winaningsih

Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Kampus Sekaran Gunungpati, Semarang 50229, Indonesia

Deni Fajar Fitriyana

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Kampus Sekaran Gunungpati, Semarang 50229, Indonesia

Suryo Wiroyudho Wibowo

Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Kampus Sekaran Gunungpati, Semarang 50229, Indonesia

Rizky Ilham Fadzillah

Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Kampus Sekaran Gunungpati, Semarang 50229, Indonesia

Harianingsih

Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Kampus Sekaran Gunungpati, Semarang 50229, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/ace.v9i1.5891

Keywords: rice husk-derived carbon; KOH activation; sustainable energy; renewable materials; responsible consumption and production

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Abstract

Rice husk is an abundant agricultural residue with strong potential as a sustainable precursor for porous carbon materials. In this study, rice-husk-derived carbon was prepared via carbonization followed by chemical activation using potassium hydroxide (KOH) with a mild impregnation ratio of 1:1. The physicochemical properties of the resulting activated carbon were systematically investigated using FTIR, SEM–EDX, and N₂ adsorption–desorption analyses. FTIR revealed the presence of oxygen-containing surface functionalities (–OH, C=O, and C–O) and residual silica-related vibrations (Si–O), indicating surface functionalization induced by KOH activation and partial retention of silica from the precursor. SEM images showed a rough, etched surface with interconnected pore networks and localized mineral-rich domains, while EDX confirmed carbon and oxygen as dominant surface elements, accompanied by residual potassium and minor silicon species. The N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherm exhibited Type IV behavior according to the IUPAC classification, with an average pore diameter of 5.0495 nm, indicating a predominantly mesoporous structure and a moderate BET surface area of 12.44 m² g⁻¹. These results demonstrate that mild KOH activation enables the formation of mesoporous carbon with controlled surface area and retained mineral features derived from rice husk. The physicochemical characteristics obtained in this work provide a structural basis for the potential relevance of rice-husk-derived carbon toward sustainable anode material design in lithium-ion batteries, while electrochemical performance remains to be validated in future studies.

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