Ultrasonication-assisted synthesis of novel strontium based mixed phase structures for supercapattery devices

Synergistic redox enhancement: silver phosphate augmentation for optimizing magnesium copper phosphate in efficient energy storage devices and oxygen evolution reaction

The implementation of battery-like electrode materials with complicated hollow structures, large surface areas, and excellent redox properties is an attractive strategy to improve the performance of hybrid supercapacitors. The efficiency of a supercapattery is determined by its energy density, rate capabilities, and electrode reliability. In this study, a magnesium copper phosphate nanocomposite (MgCuPO4) was synthesized using a hydrothermal technique, and silver phosphate (Ag3PO4) was decorated on its surface using a sonochemical technique. Morphological analyses demonstrated that Ag3PO4 was closely bound to the surface of amorphous MgCuPO4. The MgCuPO4 nanocomposite electrode showed a 1138 C g-1 capacity at 2 A g-1 with considerably improved capacity retention of 59% at 3.2 A g-1. The increased capacity retention was due to the fast movement of electrons and the presence of an excess of active sites for the diffusion of ions from the porous Ag3PO4 surface. The MgCuPO4-Ag3PO4//AC supercapattery showed 49.4 W h kg-1 energy density at 550 W kg-1 power density and outstanding capacity retention (92% after 5000 cycles). The experimental findings for the oxygen evolution reaction reveal that the initial increase in potential required for MgCuPO4-Ag3PO4 is 142 mV, indicating a clear Tafel slope of 49 mV dec-1.

The supercapattery designed with a binary composite of niobium silver sulfide (NbAg2S) and activated carbon for enhanced electrochemical performance

A supercapattery is a hybrid device that is a combination of a battery and a capacitor. Niobium sulfide (NbS), silver sulfide (Ag₂S), and niobium silver sulfide (NbAg₂S) were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. NbAg₂S (50/50 wt% ratio) had a specific capacity of 654 C g^-1, which was higher than the combined specific capacities of NbS (440 C g^-1) and Ag₂S (232 C g^-1), as determined by the electrochemical investigation of a three-cell assembly. Activated carbon and NbAg₂S were combined to develop the asymmetric device (NbAg₂S//AC). A maximum specific capacity of 142 C g^-1 was delivered by the supercapattery (NbAg₂S//AC). The supercapattery (NbAg₂S/AC) provided 43.06 W h kg^-1 energy density while retaining 750 W kg^-1 power density. The stability of the NbAg₂S//AC device was evaluated by subjecting it to 5000 cycles. After 5000 cycles, the (NbAg₂S/AC) device still had 93% of its initial capacity. This research indicates that merging NbS and Ag₂S (50/50 wt% ratio) may be the best choice for future energy storage technologies.

Exploring the electrochemical performance of copper-doped cobalt-manganese phosphates for potential supercapattery applications

The significant electrochemical performance in terms of both specific energy and power delivered via hybrid energy storage devices (supercapattery) has raised their versatile worth but electrodes with flashing electrochemical conduct are still craved for better performance. In this work, binary and ternary metal phosphates based on copper, cobalt, and manganese were synthesized by a sonochemical method. Then, the compositions of copper and cobalt were optimized in ternary metal phosphates. The structural studies and morphological aspects of synthesized materials were scrutinized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, the electrochemical characterizations were performed in three- and two-cell configurations. The sample with equal compositions of copper and cobalt (50/50) demonstrates the highest specific capacity of 340 C g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.5 A g⁻¹ among all. This optimized composition was utilized as a positive electrode material in a supercapattery device that reveals a high specific capacity of 247 C g⁻¹. The real device exhibits an excellent energy density of 55 W h kg⁻¹ while delivering a power density of 800 W kg⁻¹. Furthermore, the device was able to provide an outstanding specific power of 6400 W kg⁻¹ while still exhibiting a specific energy of 19 W h kg⁻¹. The stability potential of the device was tested for 2500 continuous charge and discharge cycles at 8 A g⁻¹. Excellent capacitive retention of 90% was obtained, which expresses outstanding cyclic stability of the real device. A theoretical study was performed to investigate the capacitance and diffusion-controlled contribution in the device performance using Dunn's model. The maximum diffusion-controlled contribution of 85% was found at 3 mV s⁻¹ scan rate. The study demonstrates the utilization of ternary metal phosphates as self-supported electrode materials for potential energy storage applications.

The optimized copper-doped cobalt–manganese phosphate was utilized as a positive electrode in an asymmetric architecture (supercapattery device), which yields enhanced specific energy and power.

Sonochemical and Sonoelectrochemical Production of Energy Materials

Sonoelectrochemistry is the combination of ultrasound and electrochemistry which provides many advantages in electrochemistry, such as fast reaction rates, surface cleaning and activation, and increased mass transport at an electrode. Due to the advantages, some efforts have been made in order to benefit sonoelectrochemistry in the field of energy and environmental engineering. This review paper highlights the developed progress of the application of sonoelectrochemistry in the production of hydrogen, electrocatalyst materials and electrodes for fuel cells and semiconductor photocatalyst materials. This review also provides the experimental methods that are utilized in several sonoelectrochemical techniques, such as different set-ups generally used for the synthesis of energy-related materials. Different key parameters in the operation of sonoelectrochemical synthesis including ultrasonication time, ultrasound frequency and operation current have been also discussed. There are not many research articles on the sonoelectrochemical production of materials for supercapacitors and water electrolyzers which play crucial roles in the renewable energy industry. Therefore, at the end of this review, some articles which have reported the use of ultrasound for the production of electrocatalysts for supercapacitors and electrolyzers have been reviewed. The current review might be helpful for scientists and engineers who are interested in and working on sonoelectrochemistry and electrocatalyst synthesis for energy storage and energy conversion.

Cobalt-manganese-zinc ternary phosphate for high performance supercapattery devices

State of the art supercapatteries have received considerable attention for their significant electrochemical performance; however, electrode materials with enhanced charge storage capabilities are desired. Here, we report the synthesis of mixed metal phosphate nanomaterials with different concentrations via a sonochemical approach. Initially, binary metal phosphates based on zinc, cobalt, and manganese were synthesized. Then, the composition of zinc and cobalt was optimized in ternary metal phosphates. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques were utilized to examine the surface morphology, elemental analysis and crystal structure of as-synthesized nanomaterials. The electrochemical characterizations were performed in a three cell configuration. Zn0.50Co00.50Mn(PO4)2 delivers the optimum performance with a specific capacity of 1022.52 C g-1 (specific capacitance of 1704.21 F g-1) at 1.2 A g-1. This optimized material was further engaged in an asymmetric device (supercapattery) as a positive electrode material to explore the real device performance. The supercapattery device was found to have an impressive specific energy of 45.45 W h kg-1 at 0.5 A g-1 and provide a remarkable specific power of 4250 W kg-1 at 5 A g-1 current density. The device exhibits excellent capacity preservation of 93% examined after 1500 charge discharge cycles. In addition, to scrutinize the supercapattery performance in terms of capacitive and diffusion controlled processes, a simulation approach was adopted. The real device comprises a capacitive contribution of 8.42% at 3 mV s-1 and 66.56% at 100 mV s-1. This novel progress in ternary metal phosphates results in a fine electrode material for high performance supercapattery applications.

Cobalt Oxide Nanograins and Silver Nanoparticles Decorated Fibrous Polyaniline Nanocomposite as Battery-Type Electrode for High Performance Supercapattery

In this study, silver (Ag) and cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) decorated polyaniline (PANI) fibers were prepared by the combination of in-situ aniline oxidative polymerization and the hydrothermal methodology. The morphology of the prepared Ag/Co₃O₄@PANI ternary nanocomposite was studied by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, while the structural studies were carried out by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The morphological characterization revealed fibrous shaped PANI, coated with Ag and Co₃O₄ nanograins, while the structural studies revealed high purity, good crystallinity, and slight interactions among the constituents of the Ag/Co₃O₄@PANI ternary nanocomposite. The electrochemical performance studies revealed the enhanced performance of the Ag/Co₃O₄@PANI nanocomposite due to the synergistic/additional effect of Ag, Co₃O₄ and PANI compared to pure PANI and Co₃O₄@PANI. The addition of the Ag and Co₃O₄ provided an extended site for faradaic reactions leading to the high specific capacity. The Ag/Co₃O₄@PANI ternary nanocomposite exhibited an excellent specific capacity of 262.62 C g⁻¹ at a scan rate of 3 mV s⁻¹. The maximum energy and power density were found to be 14.01 Wh kg⁻¹ and 165.00 W kg⁻¹, respectively. The cyclic stability of supercapattery (Ag/Co₃O₄@PANI//activated carbon) consisting of a battery type electrode demonstrated a gradual increase in specific capacity with a continuous charge–discharge cycle until ~1000 cycles, then remained stable until 2500 cycles and later started decreasing, thereby showing the cyclic stability of 121.03% of its initial value after 3500 cycles.