Bacterial Cellulose Supercapacitors: Renewable Energy Storage Electrodes from Hasanuddin University Study

Researchers at Hasanuddin University in Indonesia reviewed 49 studies on turning bacterial cellulose into porous carbon for supercapacitor electrodes. The analysis shows that freeze-drying before carbonization preserves the nanofiber structure, which improves ion access and charge storage. Chemical activation and heteroatom doping further boost performance by increasing surface area and adding active sites. When optimized, bacterial cellulose-derived carbon can match or beat commercial activated carbon in lab tests. The review notes that two-electrode testing gives a more realistic picture than three-electrode setups. However, progress is limited by inconsistent reporting and lack of scalable manufacturing methods. This matters for grid storage and electric vehicle components because supercapacitors deliver fast charge and long cycle life. If the fabrication methods can scale, bacterial cellulose offers a renewable, low-carbon alternative to conventional electrode materials. The next step is moving from lab demonstrations to pilot production.