Enhanced performance on capacity retention of hierarchical NiS hexagonal nanoplate for highly stable asymmetric supercapacitor

Review of NiS-Based Electrode Nanomaterials for Supercapacitors

As a new type of energy storage device, supercapacitors have the advantages of high-power densities, high safety factors, and low maintenance costs, so they have attracted widespread attention among researchers. However, a major problem with supercapacitors is that their energy densities are not high enough, which limits their application. Therefore, it is crucial to expand the application scenarios of supercapacitors to increase their energy density as much as possible without diminishing their advantages. The classification and working principles of supercapacitors are introduced in this paper. The electrochemical properties of pure NiS materials, NiS composites with carbon materials, NiS composites with sulfide materials, and NiS composites with transition metal oxides for supercapacitors are summarized. This paper may assist in the design of new electrode materials for NiS-based supercapacitors.

Roles of TOPO Coordinating Solvent on Prepared Nano-Flower/Star and Nano-Rods Nickel Sulphides for Solar Cells Applications

The present study describes a cheap, safe, and stable chemical process for the formation of nickel sulphide (NiS) with the use of mixed and single molecular precursors. The production pathway is uncomplicated, energy-efficient, quick, and toxic-free, with large-scale commercialization potential. The obtained results show the effect of tri-N-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) as a coordinating solvent on the reaction chemistry, size distributions, morphology, and optical properties of both precursors. Ni[N,N-benz-N-p-anisldtc] as NiSa, Ni[N,N-benzldtc] as NiSb, and Ni[N-p-anisldtc] as NiSc thermally decompose in a single step at 333-334 °C. The X-ray diffraction peaks for NiSa, NiSb, and NiSc matched well with the cubic NiS nanoparticles and corresponded to planes of (111), (220), and (311). The extrapolated linear part from the Tauc plots reveals band gap values of 3.12 eV, 2.95 eV, and 2.5 eV, which confirms the three samples as potential materials for solar cell applications. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) technique affirmed the quantum dot size distribution at 19.69-28.19 nm for NISa, 9.08-16.63 nm for NISb, and 9.37-10.49 nm for NISc, respectively. NiSa and NiSc show a clearly distinguishable flower/star like morphology, while NiSb displays a compact nano-rod shape. To the best of the authors' knowledge, very few studies have been reported on the flower/star like and nano-rod shapes, but none with the dithiocarbamate molecular precursor for NiS nanoparticles.

Synthesis of P-doped NiS as an electrode material for supercapacitors with enhanced rate capability and cycling stability

Coral-like P-doped NiS nanocrystals were successfully synthesized by a two-step solvent-thermal method. The P-doped NiS electrode presented enhanced high capacitance, rate performance, and cycle life.

Hierarchical MXene/transition metal chalcogenide heterostructures for electrochemical energy storage and conversion

MXenes have gained rapidly increasing attention owing to their two-dimensional (2D) layered structures and unique mechanical and physicochemical properties. However, MXenes have some intrinsic limitations (e.g., the restacking tendency of the 2D structure) that hinder their practical applications. Transition metal chalcogenide (TMC) materials such as SnS, NiS, MoS₂, FeS₂, and NiSe₂ have attracted much interest for energy storage and conversion by virture of their earth-abundance, low costs, moderate overpotentials, and unique layered structures. Nonetheless, the intrinsic poor electronic conductivity and huge volume change of TMC materials during the alkali metal-ion intercalation/deintercalation process cause fast capacity fading and poor-rate and poor-cycling performances. Constructing heterostructures based on metallic conductive MXenes and highly electrochemically active TMCs is a promising and effective strategy to solve these problems and enhance the electrochemical performances. This review highlights and discusses the recent research development of MXenes and hierarchical MXene/TMC heterostructures, with a focus on the synthesis strategies, surface/heterointerface engineering, and potential applications for lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, supercapacitors, electrocatalysis, and photocatalysis. The critical challenges and perspectives of the future development of MXenes and hierarchical MXene/TMC heterostructures for electrochemical energy storage and conversion are forecasted.

Coordination agent-dominated phase control of nickel sulfide for high-performance hybrid supercapacitor

The property of an active material is not only influenced by its morphology and size, but also by its crystal phase. The present phase regulation of nickel sulfide is mainly achieved by controlling the participation of sulfur source in reaction. Thus, new perspectives direct at phase control need to be explored and supplemented. Herein, we proposed a novel coordination agent-dominated phase modulation strategy assisted by a hydrothermal process. It is found that increasing the amount of coordination agent can drove the phase transformation from the initial composite of β-NiS/α-NiS/Ni₃S₄ to β-NiS/α-NiS, and then to pure β-NiS. The mechanism of phase regulation has been proposed, and the general application of this method has been demonstrated. By employing coordination agent, the size of resulted products is reduced, and the morphology is optimized. As a result, all of the pure β-NiS electrodes indicate significantly enhanced specific capacity than the pristine β-NiS/α-NiS/Ni₃S₄ composite. Notably, the sample synthesized with 3 mmol of urea (S11) shows uniform morphology and smallest size, and it gives a highest specific capacity of 223.8 mAh g^-1 at 1 A g^-1, almost 1.5 times of the original sample. The fabricated S11//rGO device delivers a high energy density of 56.6 Wh·kg^-1 at a power density of 407.5 W·kg^-1, and keeps an impressive capacity retention of 84% after 20,000 cycles. This work put forwards a new prospect for controlling the phase and composition of nickel sulfide based on coordination chemistry.

Novel Dealloying-Fabricated NiS/NiO Nanoparticles with Superior Cycling Stability for Supercapacitors

NiS/NiO nanoparticles are successfully fabricated through a simple dealloying method and an ion-exchange process. X-ray diffraction demonstrates the existence of NiO and NiS phases, and scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy imply the nanopore distribution nature and the nanoparticle morphology of the produced material. The electrochemical behaviors are studied by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge measurements. The NiS/NiO electrode shows an enhanced specific capacitance of 1260 F g-1 at a current density of 0.5 A g-1. The NiS/NiO//AC device provides a maximum energy density of 17.42 W h kg-1, a high power density of 4000 W kg-1, and a satisfactory cycling performance of 93% capacitance retention after 30,000 cycles.

Si Quantum Dots Assist Synthesized Microflower-Like Si/MoS2 Composites for Supercapacitors

The microflower-like Si/MoS2 composites were fabricated using Si quantum dots (QDs) to assist a facile hydrothermal method. The electrochemical performance of Si/MoS2 composite in symmetric and asymmetric systems was studied. Electrochemical characterization revealed that the Si/MoS2 composite electrode in a three-electrode system has a high specific capacitance of 574.4 F·g−1 at 5 A·g−1. Furthermore, the Si/MoS2 composite electrode in a two-electrode system had the maximum energy density of 27.2 Wh·kg−1 when a power density of 749.1 W·kg−1 was achieved. Therefore, this investigation proves the Si/MoS2 composite microflower-like structure should be a promising candidate electrode material for supercapacitors.

Ethylene glycol assisted three-dimensional floral evolution of BiFeO3-based nanostructures with effective magneto-electric response

Controlled growth of nanostructures plays a vital role in tuning the physical and chemical properties of functional materials for advanced energy and memory storage devices. Herein, we synthesized hierarchical micro-sized flowers, built by the self-assembly of highly crystalline, two-dimensional nanoplates of Co- and Ni-doped BiFeO3, using a simple ethylene glycol-mediated solvothermal method. Pure BiFeO3 attained scattered one-dimensional nanorods-type morphology having diameter nearly 60 nm. Co-doping of Co and Ni at Fe-site in BiFeO3 does not destabilize the morphology; rather it generates three-dimensional floral patterns of self-assembled nanoplates. Unsaturated polarization loops obtained for BiFeO3 confirmed the leakage behaviour of these rhombohedrally distorted cubic perovskites. These loops were then used to determine the energy density of the BiFeO3 perovskites. Enhanced ferromagnetic behaviour with high coercivity and remanence was observed for these nanoplates. A detailed discussion about the origin of ferromagnetic behaviour based on Goodenough-Kanamori's rule is also a part of this paper. Impedance spectroscopy revealed a true Warburg capacitive behaviour of the synthesized nanoplates. High magneto-electric (ME) coefficient of 27 mV cm-1 Oe-1 at a bias field of -0.2 Oe was observed which confirmed the existence of ME coupling in these nanoplates.

Hierarchically hollow structured NiCo2S4@NiS for high-performance flexible hybrid supercapacitors

Hierarchical nanostructures with outstanding electrochemical properties and mechanical stability are ideal for constructing flexible hybrid supercapacitors. Herein, hierarchically hollow NiCo2S4@NiS nanostructures were designed and synthesized by sulfurizing the hierarchical NiCo double hydroxides (DHs) coated with nickel hydroxide nanostructures on carbon fabrics (NiCo-DHs@Ni(OH)2/CF), which trigger excellent electrochemical performances. The NiCo2S4@NiS/CF exhibits a high specific capacity of 1314.0 C g-1 at a current density of 1 A g-1, and maintains the rate performance at about 79.2% of the initial capacity at 30 A g-1. The hybrid supercapacitors of NiCo2S4@NiS//AC display a high energy density of 62.4 W h kg-1 at a power density of 800 W kg-1 with a remarkable cycling stability (96.2% of initial capacitance after 5000 cycles) and robust mechanical flexibility (no obvious decay of specific capacitance during various deformations). Consequently, NiCo2S4@NiS electrodes are expected to be a promising candidate for new smart energy storage devices with high security, stability and flexibility.