One-step synthesis of hollow C-NiCo2S4 nanostructures for high-performance supercapacitor electrodes

One-Step Synthesis of Co-Ni-O-S Nanohybrid with Amorphous-Nanocrystalline Interwoven Architecture for High-Energy-Density Supercapacitor-Battery Hybrids

Transition metal sulfur oxides have emerged as promising candidates for advanced energy storage due to their multi-electron redox activity and tunable nanostructures. Among them, Co-Ni-O-S composites are particularly attractive for supercapacitors owing to their high energy storage density. However, conventional synthesis methods often require prolonged processing times (>10 h) or high-temperature treatments (>80 °C), which limit their practical applications. This work addresses these challenges by developing amorphous-nanocrystalline intertwined Co-Ni-O-S nanohybrid nanosheet arrays through a rapid alternating current (AC) electrodeposition method (1 h) under ambient conditions. The unique architecture combines the advantages of amorphous phases (enhanced ion diffusion pathways) and nanocrystalline domains (efficient charge transport), leading to exceptional specific capacitance of 4804 F g⁻¹ (or 959 mAh g-1, 2402 C g-1) at 1 A g⁻¹, 82.2% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles (5 A g⁻¹), and a near 100% Coulombic efficiency (CE). The assembled asymmetric supercapacitor achieves an energy density of 199.4 Wh kg⁻¹ at 754 W kg⁻¹, bridging the performance gap between batteries and conventional capacitors.

Unravelling the role of pore structure of biomass-derived porous carbon in charge storage mechanisms for supercapacitors

This study presents findings on the production and analysis of activated carbon (AC), which exhibits a significantly expansive surface area derived from readily available and inexpensive agroforestry waste, specifically coconut shells. The carbon materials displayed encouraging features for electrochemical energy storage applications with a high specific surface area (2920 m2 g-1), an ordered mesoporous structure (∼2.5 nm), and substantial electronic conductivity. By altering the surface properties of AC materials, they exhibited different energy storage responses while using an ionic liquid as an electrolyte. Electrodes composed of AC sourced from coconut shells demonstrated notably high specific capacitance (78 F g-1) and retained capacitance when assessed within symmetric electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) employing organic electrolytes. Interestingly, the AC cell in an organic electrolyte delivered a specific energy (Es) of 67 W h kg-1 at a specific power (Ps) of 1237 W kg-1 at the current density of 1 A g-1 and still provided Es of 64, 60, 58, 57, and 52 W h kg-1 at Ps of 2477, 3724, 4971, 6218 and 12 480 W kg-1 at the current density of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 A g-1. This work demonstrates the effect of different pore volumes on the electrocatalytic activity of AC derived from natural product waste. Our results indicate the feasibility of employing these electrodes for lab-scale applications. Thus, the AC material emerges as a highly promising substance, poised to advance the creation of cost-efficient, environmentally sustainable, high-performance, high-power devices.

AM, Beknalkar SA, Dhas SD, Shin DK. Ni3V2O8 Marigold Structures with rGO Coating for Enhanced Supercapacitor Performance

In this work, Ni3V2O8 (NVO) and Ni3V2O8-reduced graphene oxide (NVO-rGO) are synthesized hydrothermally, and their extensive structural, morphological, and electrochemical characterizations follow subsequently. The synthetic materials' crystalline structure was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and its unique marigold-like morphology was observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The chemical states of the elements were investigated via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), Galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were used to assess the electrochemical performance. A specific capacitance of 132 F/g, an energy density of 5.04 Wh/kg, and a power density of 187 W/kg were demonstrated by Ni3V2O8-rGO. Key electrochemical characteristics were b = 0.67; a transfer coefficient of 0.52; a standard rate constant of 6.07 × 10-5 cm/S; a diffusion coefficient of 5.27 × 10-8 cm2/S; and a series resistance of 1.65 Ω. By employing Ni3V2O8-rGO and activated carbon, an asymmetric supercapacitor with a specific capacitance of 7.85 F/g, an energy density of 3.52 Wh/kg, and a power density of 225 W/kg was achieved. The series resistance increased from 4.27 Ω to 6.63 Ω during cyclic stability tests, which showed 99% columbic efficiency and 87% energy retention. The potential of Ni3V2O8-rGO as a high-performance electrode material for supercapacitors is highlighted by these findings.

Efficient One-Step Synthesis of a Pt-Free Zn0.76Co0.24S Counter Electrode for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells and Its Versatile Application in Photoelectrochromic Devices

In this study, we synthesized a ternary transition metal sulfide, Zn0.76Co0.24S (ZCS-CE), using a one-step solvothermal method and explored its potential as a Pt-free counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Comprehensive investigations were conducted to characterize the structural, morphological, compositional, and electronic properties of the ZCS-CE electrode. These analyses utilized a range of techniques, including X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrocatalytic performance of ZCS-CE for the reduction of I3- species in a symmetrical cell configuration was evaluated through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Our findings reveal that ZCS-CE displayed superior electrocatalytic activity and stability when compared to platinum in I-/I3- electrolyte systems. Furthermore, ZCS-CE-based DSSCs achieved power conversion efficiencies on par with their Pt-based counterparts. Additionally, we expanded the applicability of this material by successfully powering an electrochromic cell with ZCS-CE-based DSSCs. This work underscores the versatility of ZCS-CE and establishes it as an economically viable and environmentally friendly alternative to Pt-based counter electrodes in DSSCs and other applications requiring outstanding electrocatalytic performance.

Hierarchical Lotus-Seedpod-Derived Porous Activated Carbon Encapsulated with NiCo2S4 for a High-Performance All-Solid-State Asymmetric Supercapacitor

Converting biowaste into carbon-based supercapacitor materials provides a new solution for high-performance and environmentally friendly energy storage applications. Herein, the hierarchical PAC/NiCo2S4 composite structure was fabricated through the combination of activation and sulfuration treatments. The PAC/NiCo2S4 electrode garnered advantages from its hierarchical structure and hollow architecture, resulting in a notable specific capacitance (1217.2 F g-1 at 1.25 A g-1) and superior cycling stability. Moreover, a novel all-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) was successfully constructed, utilizing PAC/NiCo2S4 as the cathode and PAC as the anode. The resultant device exhibited exceptionally high energy (49.7 Wh kg-1) and power density (4785.5 W kg-1), indicating the potential of this biomass-derived, hierarchical PAC/NiCo2S4 composite structure for employment in high-performance supercapacitors.

Binder-free cupric-ion containing zinc sulfide nanoplates-like structure for flexible energy storage devices

Researchers have been enthusiastic about developing high-performance electrode materials based on metal chalcogenides for energy storage applications. Herein, we developed cupric ion-containing zinc sulfide (ZnS:Cu) nanoplates by using a solvothermal approach. The as-synthesized ZnS:Cu nanoplates electrode was characterized and analyzed by using XRD, SEM, TEM, EDS, and XPS. The binder-free flexible ZnS:Cu nanoplates exhibited excellent specific capacitance of 545 F g-1 at a current density of 1 A g-1. The CV and GCD measurements revealed that the specific capacitance was mainly attributed to the Faradaic redox mechanism. Further, the binder-free flexible ZnS:Cu nanoplates electrode retained 87.4% along with excellent Coulombic efficiency (99%) after 5000 cycles. The binder-free flexible ZnS:Cu nanoplates exhibited excellent conductivity, specific capacitance, and stability which are beneficial in energy storage systems. These findings will also open new horizons amongst material scientists toward the new direction of electrode development.

A Review on the Application of Cobalt-Based Nanomaterials in Supercapacitors

Among many electrode materials, cobalt-based nanomaterials are widely used in supercapacitors because of their high natural abundance, good electrical conductivity, and high specific capacitance. However, there are still some difficulties to overcome, including poor structural stability and low power density. This paper summarizes the research progress of cobalt-based nanomaterials (cobalt oxide, cobalt hydroxide, cobalt-containing ternary metal oxides, etc.) as electrode materials for supercapacitors in recent years and discusses the preparation methods and properties of the materials. Notably, the focus of this paper is on the strategies to improve the electrochemical properties of these materials. We show that the performance of cobalt-based nanomaterials can be improved by designing their morphologies and, among the many morphologies, the mesoporous structure plays a major role. This is because mesoporous structures can mitigate volume changes and improve the performance of pseudo capacitance. This review is dedicated to the study of several cobalt-based nanomaterials in supercapacitors, and we hope that future scholars will make new breakthroughs in morphology design.

Tailoring Electrochemical Performance of Co3O4 Electrode Materials by Mn Doping

Reasonable design of electrode materials is the key to solving the low energy density of the supercapacitors. Transition metal oxide Co3O4 material is commonly used in the field of supercapacitors, but the poor cycle stability limits its practical application. Herein, we report 0.3Mn-Co3O4 nanostructures grown on nickel foam by a facile one-step hydrothermal approach. The morphology of the samples can be regulated by the introduction of different amounts of Mn ions. The specific capacitance reaches 525.5 C/g at 1 A/g. The performance of 0.3Mn-Co3O4 material is significantly improved due to its excellent stability and conductivity, which makes it a suitable electrode material for supercapacitors. A flexible asymmetric device is also fabricated using the sample as the cathode. The assembled capacitor still possesses a desirable cycle stability after charging and discharging of 10,000 times, and its capacitance retention rate can reach 83.71%.

Animal- and Human-Inspired Nanostructures as Supercapacitor Electrode Materials: A Review

Human civilization has been relentlessly inspired by the nurturing lessons; nature is teaching us. From birds to airplanes and bullet trains, nature gave us a lot of perspective in aiding the progress and development of countless industries, inventions, transportation, and many more. Not only that nature inspired us in such technological advances but also, nature stimulated the advancement of micro- and nanostructures. Nature-inspired nanoarchitectures have been considered a favorable structure in electrode materials for a wide range of applications. It offers various positive attributes, especially in energy storage applications, such as the formation of hierarchical two-dimensional and three-dimensional interconnected networked structures that benefit the electrodes in terms of high surface area, high porosity and rich surface textural features, and eventually, delivering high capacity and outstanding overall material stability. In this review, we comprehensively assessed and compiled the recent advances in various nature-inspired based on animal- and human-inspired nanostructures used for supercapacitors. This comprehensive review will help researchers to accommodate nature-inspired nanostructures in industrializing energy storage and many other applications.

Facile Synthesis of NixCo3-xS4 Microspheres for High-Performance Supercapacitors and Alkaline Aqueous Rechargeable NiCo-Zn Batteries

Electrochemical energy storage devices (EESDs) have caused widespread concern, ascribed to the increasing depletion of traditional fossil energy and environmental pollution. In recent years, nickel cobalt bimetallic sulfides have been regarded as the most attractive electrode materials for super-performance EESDs due to their relatively low cost and multiple electrochemical reaction sites. In this work, NiCo-bimetallic sulfide Ni_xCo_3-xS₄ particles were synthesized in a mixed solvent system with different proportion of Ni and Co salts added. In order to improve the electrochemical performance of optimized Ni_2.5Co_0.5S₄ electrode, the Ni_2.5Co_0.5S₄ particles were annealed at 350 °C for 60 min (denoted as Ni_2.5Co_0.5S₄-350), and the capacity and rate performance of Ni_2.5Co_0.5S₄-350 was greatly improved. An aqueous NiCo-Zn battery was assembled by utilizing Ni_2.5Co_0.5S₄-350 pressed onto Ni form as cathode and commercial Zn sheet as anode. The NiCo-Zn battery based on Ni_2.5Co_0.5S₄-350 cathode electrode delivers a high specific capacity of 232 mAh g^-1 at 1 A g^-1 and satisfactory cycling performance (65% capacity retention after 1000 repeated cycles at 8 A g^-1). The as-assembled NiCo-Zn battery deliver a high specific energy of 394.6 Wh kg^-1 and long-term cycling ability. The results suggest that Ni_2.5Co_0.5S₄-350 electrode has possible applications in the field of alkaline aqueous rechargeable electrochemical energy storage devices for supercapacitor and NiCo-Zn battery.

Facile and Controllable Synthesis of CuS@Ni-Co Layered Double Hydroxide Nanocages for Hybrid Supercapacitors

The synthesis of battery-type electrode materials with hollow nanostructures for high-performance hybrid supercapacitors (HSCs) remains challenging. In this study, hollow CuS@Ni-Co layered double hydroxide (CuS-LDH) composites with distinguished compositions and structures are successfully synthesized by co-precipitation and the subsequent etching/ion-exchange reaction. CuS-LDH-10 with uniformly dispersed CuS prepared with the addition of 10 mg of CuS shows a unique hollow polyhedral structure constituted by loose nanosphere units, and these nanospheres are composed of interlaced fine nanosheets. The composite prepared with 30 mg of CuS addition (CuS-LDH-30) is composed of a hollow cubic morphology with vertically aligned nanosheets on the CuS shell. The CuS-LDH-10 and CuS-LDH-30 electrodes exhibit high specific capacity (765.1 and 659.6 C g^-1 at 1 A g^-1, respectively) and superior cycling performance. Additionally, the fabricated HSC delivers a prominent energy density of 52.7 Wh kg^-1 at 804.5 W kg^-1 and superior cycling performance of 87.9% capacity retention after 5000 cycles. Such work offers a practical and effortless route for synthesizing unique metal sulfide/hydroxide composite electrode materials with hollow structures for high-performance HSCs.

Ternary Nanohybrid of Ni3S2/CoMoS4/MnO2 on Nickel Foam for Aqueous and Solid-State High-Performance Supercapacitors

To overcome the issues related to supercapacitor (SC) electrodes, such as high cost, low specific capacitance (C_s), low energy density (ED), requirements for expensive binder, etc., binderless electrodes are highly desirable. Here, a new ternary nanohybrid is presented as a binder-free SC electrode based on Ni₃S₂, CoMoS₄, and MnO₂. A facile two-step hydrothermal route, followed by a short thermal annealing process, is developed to grow amorphous polyhedral structured CoMoS₄ and further wrap MnO₂ nanowires on Ni foam. This rationally designed binder-free electrode exhibited the highest C_s of 2021 F g⁻¹ (specific capacity of 883.8 C g⁻¹ or 245.5 mAh g⁻¹) at a current density of 1 A g⁻¹ in 1 M KOH electrolyte with a highly porous surface morphology. This electrode material exhibited excellent cycling stability (90% capacitance retention after 4000 cycles) due to the synergistic contribution of individual components and advanced surface properties. Furthermore, an aqueous binder-free asymmetric SC based on this ternary composite exhibited an ED of 20.7 Wh kg⁻¹, whereas a solid-state asymmetric SC achieved an ED of 13.8 Wh kg⁻¹. This nanohybrid can be considered a promising binder-free electrode for both aqueous and solid-state asymmetric SCs with these remarkable electrochemical properties.

Morphology controlling of manganese-cobalt-sulfide nanoflake arrays using polyvinylpyrrolidone capping agent to enhance the performance of hybrid supercapacitors

Transition metal sulfide-based electrode materials are promising candidates for energy storage applications owing to their richer redox-active sites and higher electrical conductivity than their oxide counterparts. Manganese-cobalt-sulfide (MCS) nanoflakes were synthesized on nickel foam in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a capping agent using a one-step hydrothermal method. The variation in the amount of PVP in the reaction solution had a prominent impact on the MCS electrode morphology. PVP altered the morphology of the MCS nanoflakes. Different shapes of interconnecting-nanoflake arrays were formed with different amounts of PVP. The MCS electrode prepared using 0.2 g of PVP (MCS-P2) showed the best efficiency with a specific capacity of 1312 C g^-1 (3215 F g^-1) at 1 A g^-1 and still retained a remarkable capacity of 1000 C g^-1 (2480 F g^-1) at 20 A g^-1. Moreover, the hybrid supercapacitor (HS) device consisting of MCS-P2//reduced graphene oxide (rGO) revealed a high energy density of 48.7 Wh kg^-1 at a corresponding power density of 386 W kg^-1. Even at a higher power density of 10.8 kW kg^-1, a notable energy density of 25.5 Wh kg^-1 was retained. These remarkable results highlight the potential applications of the MCS-P2 electrode material in energy storage.

Modified KBBF-like Material for Energy Storage Applications: ZnNiBO3(OH) with Enhanced Cycle Life

Not only are new and novel materials sought for electrode material development, but safe and nontoxic materials are also highly being intensively investigated. Herein, we prepare ZnNiBO₃(OH) (ZNBH), a modified and Be-free KBe₂BO₃F₂ (KBBF) family member as an effective electrode material. The novel ZNBH resembles the KBBF structure but with reinforced structure and bonding, in addition to well-incorporated conductive metals benefiting supercapacitor applications. The enhanced electronic properties of ZNBH are further studied by means of density functional theory calculations. The as-prepared ZNBH electrode material exhibits a specific capacity of 746 C g^-1 at a current density of 1 A g^-1. A hybrid supercapacitor (HSC) device is fabricated and successfully illuminated multiple color LEDs. Interestingly, even after being subjected to long charge-discharge for 10 000 cycles, the ZNBH//AC HSC device retains 97.2% of its maximum capacity, indicating the practicality of ZNBH as an electrode material.

From waste to value-added products: Evaluation of activated carbon generated from leather waste for supercapacitor applications

Leather tanning operations create a large amount of solid and liquid waste from tanning, wherein Cr(III) compounds are used to produce wet blue leather. In this study, activated carbon (AC) generated from leather waste (LW) was evaluated for supercapacitor (SC) applications. AC was produced through carbonization at a temperature range of 700°C-900 °C, followed by chemical activation. The morphological characteristics of the AC samples revealed a certain degree of porosity and a maximum surface area of 381 m² g^-1. X-ray diffraction and EDX examination showed the existence of graphitic planes in the LW-derived AC. Raman, FT-IR, and XPS confirmed the defect nature and surface functional groups of the AC samples. A three-electrode approach was employed to assess the electrochemical characteristics of the AC samples. The supreme capacitance of a sample (LW700) at 1 A/g was 550 F g^-1 (237 C g^-1) in a 6 M KOH electrolyte. All the electrochemical results (CV, GCD, and Nyquist curves) demonstrated that the LW carbon possessed a high specific capacitance and electrochemical cycle constancy, and hence is appropriate for SC fabrication. These desirable capacitive performances enable solid leather waste-derived carbons as a source of new materials for low-cost energy storage supercapacitors. This work put forwards a new concept of 'waste to value-added products' that can be a helping hand for leather industries and its solid waste management disposal problems.

High-performance quasi-solid-state flexible supercapacitors based on a flower-like NiCo metal–organic framework

NiCo metal–organic framework (MOF) electrodes were prepared by a simple hydrothermal method. The flower-like NiCo MOF electrode exhibited an exciting potential window of 1.2 V and an excellent specific capacitance of 927.1 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹. The flower-like NiCo MOF//activated carbon (AC) device delivered a high energy density of 28.5 W hkg⁻¹ at a power density of 400.5 W kg⁻¹ and good cycle stability (95.4% after 5000 cycles at 10 A g⁻¹). Based on the flower-like NiCo MOF electrode, the asymmetric quasi-solid-state flexible supercapacitor (AFSC) was prepared and exhibited good capacitance retention after bending (79% after 100 bends and 64.4% after 200 bends). Furthermore, two AFSCs in series successfully lit up ten parallel red LED lights, showing great application potential in flexible and wearable energy storage devices.

The flower-like NiCo MOF prepared by a hydrothermal has a specific capacitance of 927.1 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹ and a capacitance retention of 69.7% from 1 A g⁻¹ to 10 A g⁻¹, showing excellent electrochemical performance.

Self-templating Scheme for the Synthesis of NiCo2Se4 and BiSe Hollow Microspheres for High-energy Density Asymmetric Supercapacitors

Porous hollow structure of the electrode materials can enlarge the surface area in contact with the electrolyte, accelerating the transport of ions and electrons during redox reaction to enhance electrochemical...

Hollow C-LDH/Co9S8 nanocages derived from ZIF-67-C for high- performance asymmetric supercapacitors

The design of supercapacitor electrode materials greatly depends on the rational construction of nanostructures and the effective combination of different active materials. Due to the poor electrical conductivity and mechanical strength, nickel-cobalt double hydroxide (NiCo-LDH) cannot reach the theoretical high specific capacitance value, while Co₉S₈ shows many interesting features, such as excellent electrochemical properties, high conductivity, and greatly improved redox reactions. Therefore, we prepared ZIF-67-C derived hollow NiCo-LDH (C-LDH)/Co₉S₈ nanocages containing two components of Co₉S₈ and NiCo-LDH through a multistep transformation method. The prepared C-LDH/Co₉S₈ nanoparticles showed a hollow rhomboid dodecahedron structure, and many NiCo-LDH nanosheets were reasonably distributed on the surface. In the three-electrode test, it can be obtained that its specific capacitance is 1654 F·g^-1 when current density is 2 A·g^-1 and 82.5% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles. Moreover, asymmetric supercapacitors (ASCs) prepared with C-LDH/Co₉S₈ as cathode and AC as anode can achieve a large energy density of 47.3 Wh·kg^-1 under the condition of high power density of 1505 W·kg^-1. After 10,000 cycles, capacitance retention rate is 80.9%, exhibit excellent cycle performance, suggesting the great potential of hollow C-LDH/Co₉S₈ nanocages in the application of supercapacitors.

Phosphorus containing layered quadruple hydroxide electrode materials on lab waste recycled flexible current collector

From environmental waste to energy storage, waste boxes converted into conductive electrodes to further grow active materials has been an interesting way of upcycling. In this study, we transformed waste boxes of KIMTECH Kimwipes® into conductive f-MWCNTs light and flexible substrate (LFS) as current collectors. Then, undoped and P-doped active materials consisting of layered quadruple hydroxides (LQH) was successfully grown on the conductive f-MWCNTs/LFS. Specifically, P-doped f-MWCNTs/LQH demonstrates 1.8 times the capacitance of an undoped f-MWCNTs/LQH. Such conversion of waste boxes not only offers a useful way of reusing waste papers which commonly ends in landfills, but the inexpensive method also offers an extreme way of cutting cost in developing conductive substrates. Also, the effective strategy of synthesizing active materials on the conductive f-MWCNTs/LFS paves its way as potential cheap electrodes of the future generation.

Facile Synthesis of Zn-Co-S Nanostrip Cluster Arrays on Ni Foam for High-Performance Hybrid Supercapacitors

Mixed metal sulfides exhibit outstanding electrochemical performance compared to single metal sulfides and mixed metal oxides because of their richer redox reactions and high electronic conductivity. In the present study, Zn-Co-S nanostrip cluster arrays were formed from ZnCo₂O₄ grown on Ni foam by an anion exchange reaction using a two-step hydrothermal process. Morphological characterization confirmed that the Zn-Co-S nanostrip cluster arrays had grown homogeneously on the skeleton of the 3D Ni foam. The length of the nanostrip was approximately 8 µm, and the width ranged from 600 to 800 nm. The Ni foam-supported Zn-Co-S nanostrip cluster arrays were assessed directly for electrochemical supercapacitor applications. Compared to ZnCo₂O₄, the Zn-Co-S electrode exhibited a three-fold higher specific capacity of 830 C g⁻¹ at a specific current of 2.0 A g⁻¹. The higher polarizability, lower electro-negativity, and larger size of the S²⁻ ion played an important role in substituting oxygen with sulfur, which enhanced the performance. The Zn-Co-S//AC hybrid device delivered a maximum specific energy of 19.0 Wh kg⁻¹ at a specific power of 514 W kg⁻¹. The remarkable performance of Zn-Co-S nanostrip cluster arrays highlights their potential as a positive electrode for hybrid supercapacitor applications.

Self-templated hollow nanospheres of B-site engineered non-stoichiometric perovskite for supercapacitive energy storage via anion-intercalation mechanism

The continual increase in energy demand and inconsistent supply have attracted attention towards sustainable energy storage/conversion devices, such as electrochemical capacitors with high energy densities and power densities. Perovskite oxides have received significant attention as anion-intercalation electrode materials for electrochemical capacitors. In this study, hollow nanospheres of non-stoichiometric cubic perovskite fluorides, KNi_1-xCo_xF_3-δ (x = 0.2; δ = 0.33) (KNCF-0.2) have been synthesized using a localized Ostwald ripening. The electrochemical performance of the non-stoichiometric perovskite has been studied in an aqueous 3 M KOH electrolyte to categorically investigate the fluorine-vacancy-mediated charge storage capabilities. High capacities up to 198.55 mA h g^-1 or 714.8 C g^-1 (equivalent to 1435 F g^-1) have been obtained through oxygen anion-intercalation mechanism (peroxide pathway, O^-). The results have been validated using ICP (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) analysis and cyclic voltammetry. An asymmetric supercapacitor device has been fabricated by coupling KNCF-0.2 with activated carbon to deliver a high energy density of 40 W h kg^-1 as well as excellent cycling stability of 98% for 10,000 cycles. The special attributes of hollow-spherical, non-stoichiometric perovskite (KNCF-0.2) have exhibited immense promise for their usability as anion-intercalation type electrodes in supercapacitors.

Template-free synthesis of β-NiS ball-in-ball microspheres for a high-performance asymmetrical supercapacitor

While significant advances have been made in the synthesis of core-/multi-shell materials, the synthetic process usually involves a soft/hard template and complicated procedures. In particular, it is extremely difficult to fabricate single-component core-shell structures for nickel sulfides (NSs) with a controlled phase. In this work, we demonstrate a novel facile method to synthesize a single-component β-NiS ball-in-ball microsphere. The ball-in-ball structure is easily obtained by uniquely employing 2-mercaptopropionic acid (2-MPA) as the sulfur source and ethanol as the solvent based on the Ostwald ripening process. In particular, our work demonstrates that the chemical structure of sulfur sources and solvents plays a key role in the formation of the pure β-NiS ball-in-ball structure. When used as an electrode active material, the β-NiS ball-in-ball microspheres exhibit two times stronger specific capacity and three times higher rate performance than NSs produced by a hydrothermal method. The fabricated NS-2//rGO asymmetrical supercapacitor (ASC) displays an energy density of 46.4 W h kg^-1 at a power density of 799.0 W kg^-1 and good cycling performance. Thus, this study provides a new method for controlling the phase and morphology of NSs.

Highly active Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst of anatase TiO2 octahedra covered with C-MoS2 nanosheets for efficient degradation of organic pollutants under solar light

The construction of a Z-scheme photocatalyst by coupling semiconductors with conductors is an efficient way to achieve high pollutant degradation efficiency. In this study, a hydrothermal approach was used to fabricate a Z-scheme photocatalyst consisting of C-MoS₂ sheets wrapped around octahedral anatase TiO₂ nanocrystals. The catalyst showed excellent photocatalytic efficiency (99%) for methylene blue degradation with low catalyst loading (0.2 g L^-1) under the simulated solar light within 60 min. High photocatalytic degradation efficiencies were also observed for Rhodamine B, methyl orange, and tetracycline under solar irradiation. The C-MoS₂ acts as an electron mediator and serves as a carrier transmission bridge for the efficient electron-hole separation. The electron-rich (101)-faceted TiO₂ benefits the Z-scheme recombination of electrons from the conduction band of TiO₂ and holes at the valence band of MoS₂. The semiconductor coupling of (101)-exposed octahedral TiO₂ and 2H-MoS₂ as well as the introduction of solid-state electron mediators, 1T-MoS₂ and carbon, resulted in increased light absorption and accelerated charge transfer at the contact interface, which enhanced the photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst significantly compared to those of P25, MoS₂/TiO₂, and C-MoS₂. The efficient separation of electron-hole pairs prolongs their lifetime for oxidation and reduction reactions in the degradation process.

A hollow Co9S8 rod-acidified CNT-NiCoLDH composite providing excellent electrochemical performance in asymmetric supercapacitors

Co9S8 and transition metal hydroxides are both potential pseudo-capacitance electrode materials for supercapacitors. Co9S8 has a large specific capacitance and electrochemical activity, and transition metal hydroxides have the advantages of high capacitance and redox activity due to their multiple valence metals and open layered structure. In this study, Co9S8 and NiCoLDH are used to form a Co9S8-aCNT-NiCoLDH composite electrode material by twining acidified carbon nanotubes (aCNTs) around hollow Co9S8 rods and then compounding nickel cobalt hydroxide (NiCoLDH) on the outside. aCNTs provide more electronic channels, which bring more active electrochemical reactions and absorb the volume expansion of Co9S8. The hollow Co9S8 rods and flower-like NiCoLDH structures ensure that the electrode has a highly open structure, which increases the contact area with the electrolyte and is beneficial for ion transport. The outer NiCoLDH can also reduce the volume expansion of Co9S8. These advantages ensure the high specific capacitance and rate performance of the Co9S8-aCNT-NiCoLDH electrode material. Co9S8-aCNT-NiCoLDH was used as the positive material to fabricate asymmetric supercapacitors with attractive energy density and power density, which further proved its excellent electrochemical performance.

Core-shell coaxially structured NiCo2S4@TiO2nanorod arrays as advanced electrode for solid-state asymmetric supercapacitors

An integrated electrode of core-shell coaxially structured NiCo₂S₄@TiO₂nanorod arrays/carbon cloth (NiCo₂S₄@TiO₂@CC) have been fabricated, via a two-step hydrothermal method. Comprehensive structural and compositional analyzes are performed to understand the effects of the NiCo₂S₄shell on the TiO₂core. Such core-shell arrays structure can significantly provide abundant electroactive sites for redox reactions, convenient ion transport paths, and favorable structure stability. The NiCo₂S₄@TiO₂@CC electrode represents a splendid specific capacitance (650 F g^-1at 1 A g^-1) and enhanced cycling stability (capacitance retention of 97% over 10 000 cycles at 5 A g^-1). Additionally, the assembled NiCo₂S₄@TiO₂@CC//CNT@CC solid-state asymmetric supercapacitors exhibit a maximal energy density of 0.6 mWh cm^-3at 32.4 W cm^-3, and topping cycling stability (85% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles at 5 mA cm^-2). The results demonstrate that the well-designed NiCo₂S₄@TiO₂@CC presented in this work are applicable for the development of electrode materials in energy storage devices.

Core-shell nanostructured Zn-Co-O@CoS arrays for high-performance hybrid supercapacitors

Although zinc oxide (ZnO) with wide distribution is one of the most attractive energy storage materials, the low electronic conductivity and insufficient active sites of bulk ZnO increase the internal resistance and reduce the capacity of electrodes for supercapacitors. Herein, CoS nanosheets are coated on the surface of heterostructured ZnO/Co₃O₄ nanowires to synthesize a core-shell Zn-Co-O@CoS electrode by a three-step method. The built-in electric field formed between ZnO and Co₃O₄ can enhance the conductivity of the composite electrode. The coating of amorphous CoS can also provide sufficient active sites and improve the chemical stability of ZnO/Co₃O₄ nanowires. As a result, the as-prepared Zn-Co-O@CoS electrode delivers a high specific capacity of 1190 C g^-1, which is 7 times higher than that of the pristine ZnO electrode. Besides, a hybrid supercapacitor (HSC) with the Zn-Co-O@CoS electrode exhibits a high energy density of 56.8 W h kg^-1 at a power density of 771.6 W kg^-1. Furthermore, we assembled a solar-charging power system by combining the HSC and monocrystalline silicon plates to prove the practicability of the device, which can power a toy electric fan successfully. This study provides an effective idea and strategy for preparing Zn-based supercapacitor electrodes with low cost and deep discharge.

Supercapacitor electrode materials: addressing challenges in mechanism and charge storage

In recent years, rapid technological advances have required the development of energy-related devices. In this regard, Supercapacitors (SCs) have been reported to be one of the most potential candidates to meet the demands of human’s sustainable development owing to their unique properties such as outstanding cycling life, safe operation, low processing cost, and high power density compared to the batteries. This review describes the concise aspects of SCs including charge-storage mechanisms and scientific principles design of SCs as well as energy-related performance. In addition, the most important performance parameters of SCs, such as the operating potential window, electrolyte, and full cell voltage, are reviewed. Researches on electrode materials are crucial to SCs because they play a pivotal role in the performance of SCs. This review outlines recent research progress of carbon-based materials, transition metal oxides, sulfides, hydroxides, MXenes, and metal nitrides. Finally, we give a brief outline of SCs’ strategic direction for future growth.

Facile one-pot solvothermal preparation of two-dimensional Ni-based metal-organic framework microsheets as a high-performance supercapacitor material

We report a facile one-pot solvothermal way to prepare two-dimensional Ni-based metal–organic framework microsheets (Ni-MOFms) using only Ni precursor and ligand without any surfactant. The Ni-MOFms exhibit good specific capacities (91.4 and 60.0 C g⁻¹ at 2 and 10 A g⁻¹, respectively) and long-term stability in 5000 cycles when used for a supercapacitor electrode.

Two-dimensional Ni-based metal–organic framework microsheets (Ni-MOFms) were synthesized via a facial one-pot solvothermal approach and exhibited good specific capacities and excellent long-term stability when used for a supercapacitor electrode.

Highly dispersive Co3O4 nanoparticles incorporated into a cellulose nanofiber for a high-performance flexible supercapacitor

Transition metal oxides used as electrode materials for flexible supercapacitors have attracted huge attention due to their high specific capacitance and surface-to-volume ratio, specifically for cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) nanoparticles. However, the low intrinsic electronic conductivity and aggregation of Co₃O₄ nanoparticles restrict their electrochemical performance and prevent these electrode materials from being commercialized. Herein, a facile, advantageous, and cost effective sol-gel synthetic route for growing Co₃O₄ nanoparticles uniformly over a low cost and eco-friendly one-dimensional (1D) hydrophilic cellulose nanofiber (CNF) surface has been reported. This exhibits high conductivity, which enables the symmetric electrode to deliver a high specific capacitance of ∼214 F g^-1 at 1 A g^-1 with remarkable cycling behavior (∼94% even after 5000 cycles) compared to that of pristine CNF and Co₃O₄ electrodes in an aqueous electrolyte. Furthermore, the binder-free nature of 1D Co₃O₄@CNF (which was carbonized at 200 °C for about 20 min under a H₂/Ar atmosphere) shows great potential as a hybrid flexible paper-like electrode and provides a high specific capacitance of 80 F g^-1 at 1 A g^-1 with a superior energy density of 10 W h kg^-1 in the gel electrolyte. This study provides a novel pathway, using a hydrophilic 1D CNF, for realizing the full potential of Co₃O₄ nanoparticles as advanced electrode materials for next generation flexible electronic devices.

A. R, Fouad OA. Polyvinylpyrrolidone and freeze drying-assisted growth of an α-Ni(OH)2/reduced graphene oxide hybrid structure as a superior electrode material for supercapacitors

The electrode of 30 wt% α-Ni(OH)₂/rGO hybrid structure displayed a promising material for supercapacitors. It showed a specific capacitance (capacity) of 1050 F g⁻¹ (580 C g⁻¹), and its hybrid device exhibited a high energy density of 60 W h kg⁻¹.

Synthesis of 3D flower-like hierarchical NiCo-LDH microspheres with boosted electrochemical performance for hybrid supercapacitors

3D flower-like NiCo-LDH microspheres synthesized via conformal alkaline hydrolysis strategy possess superior specific capacitance and stability, and the assembled HSC exhibits prominent power/energy density and durability.

Synthesis of ZnIn2S4@Co3S4 particles derived from ZIF-67 for photocatalytic hydrogen production

In this work, ZIF-67 derivative Co₃S₄ with diamond dodecahedron structure was firstly synthesized via a series of reactions, and ZnIn₂S₄@Co₃S₄ heterostructures with adjustable band gaps were successfully obtained through a simple hydrothermal method. Consequently, ZnIn₂S₄@Co₃S₄ heterostructures have significantly enhanced visible light absorption and improved photocatalytic efficiency, among which the ZC-5 composite exhibits the highest photocatalytic hydrogen production rate up to 4261 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ under simulated sunlight, to be approximately 4.8 times higher than that of pure ZnIn₂S₄. The enhanced photocatalytic activity can be attributed to faster electron transfer and more efficient electron–hole pairs separation derived from the heterostructures which form at the interface between Co₃S₄ and ZnIn₂S₄. Thus, this study provides a good strategy for photocatalytic hydrogen production without precious metals using heterostructures.

Appropriate morphology and structure can provide more charge adsorption sites which contribute to high catalytic activity, ZnIn₂S₄ with the coupling amount of 5% Co₃S₄ displays superior performance in the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reactions.

Improving the electrocatalytic activity and stability of spinel sulfide counter electrodes by trimetallic synergy effects for quantum dot sensitized solar cells

Spinel trimetallic sulfide M_0.5Ni_0.5Co₂S₄ (M = Cu and Mn) nanostructures are designed and synthesized for the first time via a facile one-pot solvothermal strategy and used as efficient counter electrodes (CEs) for quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs).

Ultra-high rate capability of the synergistically built dual nanostructure of NiCo2S4/nickel foam as an electrode in supercapacitors

The microstructure of electrode materials and its synergism with current collectors have been a research focus in the area of Faraday supercapacitors (FSs), while the microstructure of current collectors has been neglected in most cases. To eliminate the electrochemical bottleneck of FSs, the comprehensive consideration on electrodes should simultaneously include both the microstructures of materials and current collectors, and their synergism. In this work, a dual nanostructure of NiCo2S4/nickel foam is built to achieve an electrode with structure-synergistical contribution from materials and current collectors. The as-built electrode presents an ultra-high rate capacity (1223.8 C g-1 at 2.5 A g-1; 53.40% capacity retention at an ultra-high current density of 148.5 A g-1) and excellent cycling stability (94.56% capacity retention after 10 000 charge-discharge cycles). The as-assembled asymmetrical supercapacitors show both high energy and power densities (76.7 W h kg-1 at 425.7 W kg-1; 41.9 W h kg-1 at 10 643.3 W kg-1). These results demonstrate that the dual nanostructure of the electrode is valuable for achieving high performance supercapacitors.

Three-dimensional Bi2O3/Ti microspheres as an advanced negative electrode for hybrid supercapacitors

Herein, we report a novel, low-temperature solvothermal method to grow 3D-Bi2O3 flower-like microspheres on Ti substrates as a binder-free negative electrode for supercapacitor applications. The Bi2O3/Ti electrode showed an areal capacitance of 1.65 F cm-2 at 4 mA cm-2. Moreover, the 3D-NiCo2O4||3D-Bi2O3 hybrid device delivered high energy and power densities of 31.17 μW h cm-2 and 7500 μW cm-2, respectively. The more optimal energy storage performance based on the strong adhesion of the current collector and self-assembled three-dimensional nanostructures permits efficient electron and ion transportation.