Preparation of high-capacitance N,S co-doped carbon nanospheres with hierarchical pores as supercapacitors

Nanostructured Conducting Polymers and Their Applications in Energy Storage Devices

Due to the energy requirements for various human activities, and the need for a substantial change in the energy matrix, it is important to research and design new materials that allow the availability of appropriate technologies. In this sense, together with proposals that advocate a reduction in the conversion, storage, and feeding of clean energies, such as fuel cells and electrochemical capacitors energy consumption, there is an approach that is based on the development of better applications for and batteries. An alternative to commonly used inorganic materials is conducting polymers (CP). Strategies based on the formation of composite materials and nanostructures allow outstanding performances in electrochemical energy storage devices such as those mentioned. Particularly, the nanostructuring of CP stands out because, in the last two decades, there has been an important evolution in the design of various types of nanostructures, with a strong focus on their synergistic combination with other types of materials. This bibliographic compilation reviews state of the art in this area, with a special focus on how nanostructured CP would contribute to the search for new materials for the development of energy storage devices, based mainly on the morphology they present and on their versatility to be combined with other materials, which allows notable improvements in aspects such as reduction in ionic diffusion trajectories and electronic transport, optimization of spaces for ion penetration, a greater number of electrochemically active sites and better stability in charge/discharge cycles.

Facile synthesis of g-C3N4 quantum dots/graphene hydrogel nanocomposites for high-performance supercapacitor

This work demonstrates a facile one-pot method for preparing graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) quantum dots/graphene hydrogel (CNQ/GH) nanocomposites using a hydrothermal process, in which graphene sheets of a graphene hydrogel (GH) are decorated with g-C₃N₄ quantum dots (CNQDs) and have a 3D hierarchical and interconnected structure through a typical self-assembly process. The obtained CNQ/GH nanocomposite demonstrates improved electrochemical performances of a supercapacitor with a specific capacitance of 243.2 F g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.2 A g⁻¹. In addition, the fabricated symmetric supercapacitor (SSC) using CNQ/GH electrodes exhibits a high energy density of 22.5 W h kg⁻¹ at a power density of 250 W kg⁻¹ and a superior cycling stability with a capacitance retention of 89.5% after 15 000 cycles. The observed improvements in the electrochemical performance of CNQ/GH electrodes are attributed to the large surface area with abundant mesopores and various C–N bonds in CNQDs, which promote efficient ion diffusion of electrolyte and electron transfer and provide more active sites for faradaic reactions. These obtained results demonstrate a facile and efficient route to develop potential electrode materials for high-performance energy storage device applications.

This work demonstrates a facile one-pot synthesis of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) quantum dots/graphene hydrogel (CNQ/GH) nanocomposites using a hydrothermal process, which shows excellent electrochemical performances for supercapacitors.

Nitrogen, sulfur co-doped hierarchical carbon encapsulated in graphene with "sphere-in-layer" interconnection for high-performance supercapacitor

Rational design of electrode with hierarchical charge-transfer structure and good electronic conductivity is important to achieve high specific capacitance and energy density for supercapacitor, but it still remains a challenge. Herein, a nitrogen, sulfur co-doped pollen-derived carbon/graphene (PCG) composite with interconnected "sphere-in-layer" structure was fabricated, in which hierarchically pollen-derived carbon microspheres can serve as "porous spacers" to prevent the agglomeration of graphene nanosheets. The optimized PCG composite prepared with 0.5 wt% of graphene oxide (PCG-0.5) exhibited high specific capacitance (420Fg^-1 at 1Ag^-1), rate performance (280Fg^-1 at 20Ag^-1), and excellent cycling stability with 94% of capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles. The symmetrical device delivered a remarkable energy density of 31.3Whkg^-1 in neutral medium. Moreover, density functional theory calculation revealed that PCG electrode possessed the accelerated charge transfer and enhanced electronic conductivity, thus ensuring a remarkable electrochemical performance. This work may afford an effective strategy for the development of biomass-derived carbon electrodes with novel charge-transfer structure toward supercapacitor applications.

Effect of KOH on the Energy Storage Performance of Molasses-Based Phosphorus and Nitrogen Co-Doped Carbon

In this study, we have evaluated the effect of potassium hydroxide (KOH) on the energy storage performance of metal-free carbon-based materials prepared from molasses. Molasses are a renewable-resource biomass and economical by-product of sugar refinement, used here as a carbon precursor. Two co-doped carbon materials using molasses were synthesized via a time and cost-efficient microwave carbonization process, with ammonium polyphosphate as a phosphorus and nitrogen doping agent. The phosphorus and nitrogen co-doped carbon (PNDC) samples were prepared in the presence and absence of a chemical activating agent (KOH), to study the role of chemical activation on PNDCs. Physical characterizations were performed to gain insight into the composition, pore size and topographical data of each material. Electrochemical characterization via cyclic voltammetry in 1 M sulfuric acid (H2SO4) as well as in 6 M KOH as electrolytes, revealed high current density and specific capacitance for the chemically activated material (PNDC2) compared to one without chemical activation (PNDC1). The capacitance value of 244 F/g in KOH electrolyte was obtained with PNDC2. It is concluded that addition of KOH prior to carbonization increases the surface functionality, which significantly enhances the electrochemical properties of the PNDC material such as current density, stability, and specific capacitance.

An ionic liquid-modified RGO/polyaniline composite for high-performance flexible all-solid-state supercapacitors

An IL-modified RGO/polyaniline composite was obtained by hydrothermal treatment and in situ polymerization, and used for high-performance supercapacitors.