Hierarchical porous carbon aerogels as a versatile electrode material for high-stability supercapacitors

Supercapacitors (SCs), as new energy storage devices with low cost and high performance, urgently require an electrode material with good pore structure and developed graphitization. Herein, we report a 3D hierarchical porous structured carbon aerogel (CA) obtained via dissolving-gelling and a subsequent carbonizing process. The gelling process was realized by using different types of anti-solvents. The carbon aerogel-acetic acid (CA-AA) has a specific surface area of 616.97 m2 g-1 and a specific capacitance of 138 F g-1 which is superior to cellulose-based active carbon. The CA was assembled into a SC, which showed excellent cycle stability. After charging and discharging 5000 times at the current density of 1 A g-1, the capacitance retention ratio of CA-AA reaches 102%. In addition, CA-AA has an energy density of 10.06 W h kg-1 when the power density is 181.06 W kg-1. It provides a choice for non-activation to effectively regulate the porous structure of biomass carbon materials.

Fabrication and application of Fe2O3-decorated carbon nanotube fibers via instantaneous Joule-heating method

Fe₂O₃-decorated carbon nanotube fibers (Fe₂O₃/CNT fibers) exhibit synergistic properties and can be used in flexible electrochemical devices. One of the greatest challenges is to synthesize homogeneous Fe₂O₃on CNT fibers. In this paper, we have anchored Fe₂O₃nanocrystals compactly and uniformly in CNT fibers via the instantaneous Joule-heating method. By regulating the current intensity, iron catalysts in CNT fibers can be directly converted into Fe₂O₃nanocrystals. This method can also prepare Fe₂O₃particles of different sizes by adjusting the current value. The distinct structure of Fe₂O₃/CNT fibers contributed to their excellent electrochemical performance. Because cobaltocene and nickelocene can also be used as catalysts to prepare CNT fibers, this method is expected to be a universal method for the composite of transition metal oxide and CNT fibers.

A thin carbon nanofiber/branched carbon nanofiber nanocomposite for high-performance supercapacitors

A symmetric device based on TCNF/CNF delivers a specific energy of 6.8 W h kg−1 at the specific power of 18.45 kW kg−1.

High Performance Supercapacitors Based on Mesopore Structured Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

A 3D CNT/few layered graphene construct (CNT-FLG) with mesopore structure was fabricated and applied in supercapacitors. The structure was acquired through a two-step method. Firstly, commercial multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MCNTs) were oxidized in a mixed solution of concentrated acid and modified with a couple of long-chain organic ions. Second, the above resultant product was carbonized at a high temperature. The achieved structure offers a 3D interconnected electrically conductive network as well as mesopore structure. It also significantly improves the specific surface area of MCNTs. Result of BET tests showed that the specific surface area of CNT-FLG reached to 2235 m2 /g. When acted as electrode materials in a supercapacitor structure, specific capacitance was approximately 531.2 F/g at a current density of 0.8 A/g. At current density of 50 A/g, specific capacitance remained 204.4 F/g. Besides, the capacitance retention was as high as 96.18 % after 10000 cycles at the current density of 5 A/g.

In situ synthesis of nitrogen site activated cobalt sulfide@N, S dual-doped carbon composite for a high-performance asymmetric supercapacitor

Cobalt sulfides with high theoretical capacity are considered as potential electrodes for supercapacitors (SCs). However, the insufficient reactive sites and low electrical conductivity of bulky cobalt sulfides restrict their applications. Here, we proposed an efficient approach for in situ formation of nitrogen site activated cobalt sulfide@N, S dual-doped carbon composite (CS@NSC) by vulcanizing the cobalt-glutamine complex (CG) precursor in a tube furnace. The effects of the molecular structure and calcination temperature of CG precursors on the morphology, structure and electrochemical performance of CS@NSC were studied. The designed CS@NSC-2 exhibited a specific capacity of 593 C g^-1 at the current density of 1 A g^-1 and good cyclic stability with 88.7% retention after 2000 cycles. Moreover, an asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) was fabricated by CS@NSC-2 (positive electrode) and activated carbon (AC) (negative electrode), which delivered ultra-high energy density of 67.8 Wh kg^-1 at a power density of 400 W kg^-1 and possessed 83.1% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles. The eco-friendly method was also suitable for synthesizing nickel sulfide. This work may provide an innovative horizon for the in situ formation of active sites in electrode materials.

Progress in supercapacitors: roles of two dimensional nanotubular materials

Overcoming the global energy crisis due to vast economic expansion with the advent of human reliance on energy-consuming labor-saving devices necessitates the demand for next-generation technologies in the form of cleaner energy storage devices. The technology accelerates with the pace of developing energy storage devices to meet the requirements wherever an unanticipated burst of power is indeed needed in a very short time. Supercapacitors are predicted to be future power vehicles because they promise faster charging times and do not rely on rare elements such as lithium. At the same time, they are key nanoscale device elements for high-frequency noise filtering with the capability of storing and releasing energy by electrostatic interactions between the ions in the electrolyte and the charge accumulated at the active electrode during the charge/discharge process. There have been several developments to increase the functionality of electrodes or finding a new electrolyte for higher energy density, but this field is still open to witness the developments in reliable materials-based energy technologies. Nanoscale materials have emerged as promising candidates for the electrode choice, especially in 2D sheet and folded tubular network forms. Due to their unique hierarchical architecture, excellent electrical and mechanical properties, and high specific surface area, nanotubular networks have been widely investigated as efficient electrode materials in supercapacitors, while maintaining their inherent characteristics of high power and long cycling life. In this review, we briefly present the evolution, classification, functionality, and application of supercapacitors from the viewpoint of nanostructured materials to apprehend the mechanism and construction of advanced supercapacitors for next-generation storage devices.

Porous Mo-C coverage on ZnO rods for enhanced supercapacitive performance

ZnO is a promising electrode material with advantages such as high environmental benignity, low cost and easy synthesis. Like other non-carbon electrode materials, ZnO has low resistivity and is therefore often combined with carbon materials to obtain favorable electronic conductivity. Herein, ZnO rods were prepared and coated with a carbon layer (Mo-C) as a supercapacitive electrode material for supercapacitors. Particularly, the porosity of the carbon layer is increased by modification with MoO42- which serves as chelating agent during the carbonation of dopamine hydrochloride. Compared to dense carbon coating layers, the porous carbon coverage is more favorable for electrolyte accessibility, thereby simultaneously promoting electronic and ionic transmission to ZnO. With these favorable features, the resultant ZnO@Mo-C composite displayed outstanding capacitances (900 F g-1 at 1 A g-1) and high rate capability (650 F g-1 at 10 A g-1). In addition, an asymmetric supercapacitor device was constructed using ZnO@Mo-C and activated carbon as the positive and negative electrodes, respectively, which realized an enlarged voltage profile of 0-1.5 V, stable cyclability with a capacitance retention of 97% and acceptable power/energy densities. Moreover, the method to produce the ZnO@Mo-C rods is facile and environmentally friendly and can be readily extended to other carbon coated materials.

A high performance tungsten bronze electrode in a mixed electrolyte and applications in supercapacitors

A Na2SO4 + H2SO4 mixed electrolyte is demonstrated for a tungsten bronze pseudocapacitive electrode. The Na2SO4 supporting salt allows a large potential window while H+ effectively suppresses phase transformation. The electrode delivers a capacitance of 860 mF cm-2 with a -0.9 V-0 V window and 98% capacitance retention over 30 000 cycles.