Metal-Organosulfide Coordination Polymer Nanosheet Array as a Battery-Type Electrode for an Asymmetric Supercapacitor

Nickel(II) Cluster-Based Pillar-Layered Metal-Organic Frameworks for High-Performance Supercapacitors

Most metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) cannot be used as electrode materials for supercapacitors because of their high costs, poor stabilities in aqueous solutions, inferior intrinsic electrocatalytic activities, and poor conductivities. Herein, the application of two nickel(II) cluster-based pillar-layered MOFs, Ni-mba-Na ([Ni₈(mba)₆(Cl)₂Na(OH^-)₃]_n, H₂mba is 2-mercaptobenzoic acid) and Ni-mba-K ([Ni₈(mba)₆(Cl)₂K(OH^-)₃]_n), as electrode materials are reported. They differ from conductive MOFs because they are insulators with small specific surface areas (<10 m² g^-1), and H²mba is an inexpensive raw material. The conductivities of Ni-mba-Na and Ni-mba-K at 30 °C were 4.002 × 10^-10 and >10^-11 S cm^-1, respectively. They showed excellent supercapacitor performance and stabilities and high inherent densities and specific capacitances. The specific powers of their asymmetric supercapacitors could reach up to 16,000 W kg^-1; the specific energies of Ni-mba-Na and Ni-mba-K were 16.9 and 21.8 Wh kg^-1, respectively. Design recommendations for these MOFs are provided based on their structure and performance differences. This paper shows a novel application of nonconductive MOFs in the energy storage field and design of high-performance electrode materials for supercapacitors.

Controllable In Situ Transformation of Layered Double Hydroxides into Ultrathin Metal-Organic Framework Nanosheet Arrays for Energy Storage

Ultrathin two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have convincing performances in energy storage, which can be put down to their accessible active sites with rapid charge transfer. Herein, NiCo-layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheet arrays are used as self-sacrificial templates to in situ fabricate ultrathin NiCo-MOF nanosheet arrays on Ni foam (NS/NF) by using organic ligands without adding metal sources. Two ultrathin MOF nanosheets with different ligands, terephthalate (BDC) and 2-aminoterephthalate (NH₂-BDC), are synthesized, characterized, and discussed in detail. Specifically, NiCo-NH₂-BDC-MOF NS/NF exhibits the best electrochemical performance as a battery-type electrode for supercapacitors, achieves an areal capacitance of 12.13 F cm^-2 at a current density of 2 mA cm^-2, and retains the original capacitance of 73.08 % after 5000 cycles at a current density of 50 mA cm^-2. Furthermore, when NiCo-NH₂-BDC-MOF NS/NF is assembled with activated carbon (AC) to form an asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC), an energy density of 0.81 mWh cm^-2 can be provided at a power density of 1.60 mW cm^-2. These results offer an effective and controllable synthetic strategy to in situ prepare ultrathin MOF nanosheet arrays with different ligands and metal ions from LDH precursors.

Kinetics-Favorable Ultrathin NiCo-MOF Nanosheets with Boosted Pseudocapacitive Charge Storage for Quasi-Solid-State Hybrid Supercapacitors

Bimetallic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with an ultrathin configuration are compelling materials for developing high-performance energy storage devices on account of their unique structural merits. Herein, a hydrangea-like NiCo-MOF is well prepared using controllable solvothermal and cation-exchange processes, synchronously achieving bimetallic nodes and hierarchical ultrathin architecture. The structural superiority enables NiCo-MOF of expanded electrons' transfer pathways and multitudinous electrolytes' diffusion channels, resulting in a significant enhancement in pseudocapacitive performance. Coupling with the bimetallic nature and constructional advantages, NiCo-MOF shows superior gravimetric capacity (832.6 C g^-1 at 1 A g^-1) and electrochemical kinetics to those of monometallic Ni-MOF and Co-MOF. Importantly, the quasi-solid-state hybrid supercapacitor (HSC) based on the NiCo-MOF cathode and active carbon (AC) anode delivers a desirable energy density (45.3 Wh kg^-1 at 847.8 W kg^-1), a favorable power density (7160.0 W kg^-1 at 23.3 Wh kg^-1), a remarkable cyclability (82.4% capacity retention over 7000 cycles), and a capability of driving miniature electronics, exhibiting its potential in practical applications. This work presents an efficient design strategy to develop kinetics-favorable MOF materials for energy storage.

A review of π-conjugated polymer-based nanocomposites for metal-ion batteries and supercapacitors

Owing to their extraordinary properties of π-conjugated polymers (π-CPs), such as light weight, structural versatility, ease of synthesis and environmentally friendly nature, they have attracted considerable attention as electrode material for metal-ion batteries (MIBs) and supercapacitors (SCPs). Recently, researchers have focused on developing nanostructured π-CPs and their composites with metal oxides and carbon-based materials to enhance the energy density and capacitive performance of MIBs and SCPs. Also, the researchers recently demonstrated various novel strategies to combine high electrical conductivity and high redox activity of different π-CPs. To reflect this fact, the present review investigates the current advancements in the synthesis of nanostructured π-CPs and their composites. Further, this review explores the recent development in different methods for the fabrication and design of π-CPs electrodes for MIBs and SCPs. In review, finally, the future prospects and challenges of π-CPs as an electrode materials for strategies for MIBs and SCPs are also presented.

Heavy chalcogenide-transition metal clusters as coordination polymer nodes

While metal-oxygen clusters are widely used as secondary building units in the construction of coordination polymers or metal-organic frameworks, multimetallic nodes with heavier chalcogenide atoms (S, Se, and Te) are comparatively untapped. The lower electronegativity of heavy chalcogenides means that transition metal clusters of these elements generally exhibit enhanced coupling, delocalization, and redox-flexibility. Leveraging these features in coordination polymers provides these materials with extraordinary properties in catalysis, conductivity, magnetism, and photoactivity. In this perspective, we summarize common transition metal heavy chalcogenide building blocks including polynuclear metal nodes with organothiolate/selenolate or anionic heavy chalcogenide atoms. Based on recent discoveries, we also outline potential challenges and opportunities for applications in this field.