Creating a new electrode material of supercapacitors from the waste multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Fabrication and assembly of supercapacitors based on Ni-based MOFs and their derivative materials for enhancing their electrochemical performances

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of porous materials that have been gradually applied in the field of supercapacitors, but they still present major challenges due to their inherent instability and poor conductivity. Herein, in order to solve these problems, Ni-based MOFs and their derivative materials with a particular spherical structure were prepared using a special calcination method. This unique structure not only improves the conductivity of the electrode, but also promotes the transport of electrons and ions during the electrochemical energy storage process. The as-prepared Ni-MOF@M-a4 has an amazing specific capacitance (637.78 F g-1) and a relatively low impedance. The fabricated asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) consisted of Ni-MOF@M-a4 and activated carbon (AC) as positive and negative electrodes, respectively. The specific capacitance of this ASC was 18.14 F g-1. The maximum energy and power densities of the device reached 1.23 W h kg-1 and 175.00 W kg-1, showing good electrochemical performance. In this work, both an innovative strategy for the rational preparation of MOF arrays with good orientation and a special material preparation method are proposed, which have promising application potential in the field of asymmetric supercapacitors.

Patternable Nanocellulose/Ti3C2Tx Flexible Films with Tunable Photoresponsive and Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Performances

Nanocellulose-mediated MXene composites have attracted widespread attention in the fields of sustainable energy, wearable sensors, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. However, the effects of different nanocelluloses on the multifunctional properties of nanocellulose/Ti₃C₂T_x composites still need further exploration. Herein, we use three types of nanocelluloses, including bacterial cellulose (BC), cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yloxy (TEMPO)-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCNs), as intercalation to link Ti₃C₂T_x nanosheets via a self-assembly process, improving the dispersibility, film-forming ability, mechanical properties, and multifunctional performances of nanocelluloses/Ti₃C₂T_x hybrids through electrostatic forces and hydrogen bonding. The optimized ultrathin (∼40 μm) TOCN/Ti₃C₂T_x film integrates excellent tensile strength (∼98.89 MPa), long-term stability (during deformation and water erosion), favorable photoelectric response (photosensitivity up to 2620%), and temperature response (reaching 163 °C in only 12 s). Laser-cutting patterned TOCN/Ti₃C₂T_x films are assembled into flexible multifunctional electronics, exhibiting splendid photoresponse performances and tunable electromagnetic energy shielding capability (>96.4%) related to the variation of water content at the film-gel electrolyte interface. Multifunctional patterned devices based on TOCN/Ti₃C₂T_x composite films provide a novel pathway to rationally design wearable EMI devices with photoelectric response and photothermal conversion.

Redox molecule Alizarin red S anchored on biomass-derived porous carbon for enhanced supercapacitive performance

Biomass-derived porous carbon as a conductive framework in which the redox molecule Alizarin red S is anchored by strong interactions.

Free-Standing, Flexible Nanofeatured Polymeric Films Prepared by Spin-Coating and Anodic Polymerization as Electrodes for Supercapacitors

Flexible and self-standing multilayered films made of nanoperforated poly(lactic acid) (PLA) layers separated by anodically polymerized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) conducting layers have been prepared and used as electrodes for supercapacitors. The influence of the external layer has been evaluated by comparing the charge storage capacity of four- and five-layered films in which the external layer is made of PEDOT (PLA/PEDOT/PLA/PEDOT) and nanoperforated PLA (PLA/PEDOT/PLA/PEDOT/PLA), respectively. In spite of the amount of conducting polymer is the same for both four- and five-layered films, they exhibit significant differences. The electrochemical response in terms of electroactivity, areal specific capacitance, stability, and coulombic efficiency was greater for the four-layered electrodes than for the five-layered ones. Furthermore, the response in terms of leakage current and self-discharge was significantly better for the former electrodes than for the latter ones.