Low-cost biomass-derived activated porous carbon from natural pine cones is synthesized using hydrothermal
approach followed by KOH activation and carbonization. The produced carbon materials have
a high surface area of 1515 m2 g1 with a well-developed meso/micropores structure which is advantageous
and favorable for mass transfer and ion accommodation for fast rate performance by providing
pathways for electrolyte permeation and contact probability. Symmetric device fabricated using the
obtained carbon material as electrode, exhibited good electrochemical performance with no degradation
of capacitance after voltage holding at 1 V for about 60 h demonstrating good rate capability of the
fabricated device. The results demonstrate the exciting potential of the pine cone derived carbons as a
promising candidate for high-performance electrode materials for supercapacitors if fully explored.The South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Science and
Technology and National Research Foundation of South Africa (Grant No. 97994).http://www.elsevier.com/locate/matchemphys2017-10-31hb2016Physic
