2. Technical description of the innovation

The material was subsequently optimized. To this end, the carbonization protocol was improved. Firstly, the atmosphere used was changed from nitrogen to argon; this change of treatment atmosphere can lead to cost increases. This choice was dictated by the need for another, purer inert atmosphere, free from heteroatoms such as oxygen. In addition, the process duration was reduced from over 22 h just for heating up to 900°C to 6 h, all to obtain similar structural properties from the point of view of X-ray and Raman diffraction, which demonstrate that the carbon obtained by this new process remains a predominantly amorphous carbon. The new process involved heating at 5°C per minute, interspersed with three one-hour stages at 300°C, 600°C and 900°C. In addition, the material was washed with water to remove any salts present after carbonization, in order to utilize the potential of sodium chloride,...