Advanced Carbon-Nickel Sulfide Hybrid Nanostructures: Extending the Limits of Battery-Type Electrodes for Redox-Based Supercapacitor Applications

One-Step Hydrothermal Synthesis of MoO2/MoS2 Nanocomposites as High-Performance Electrode Material for Supercapacitors

By only changing the ratio of Mo to S source, a distinctive single phase MoO2 or MoS2 and MoO2/MoS2 nanocomposites (NCs) are obtained through a simple one-step hydrothermal method based on CH4N2S as a sulfur source and (NH4)6Mo7O24·4H2O as a source of Mo in oxalic acid. The effect of ratio of Mo to S source on the composition, structure, and electrochemical performance are systematically researched. Due to its unique design, abundant macropores active sites in MoO2/MoS2 NCs induce superior rate property (55.30% capacitance retention to 20 from 1 A g-1) and larger specific capacitance (1667.3 F g-1 at 1 A g-1) and longer cycle life (94.75% after 5000 cycles) as used directly as an electrode. Furthermore, at a power density of 225 W kg-1, a maximal energy density of 21.85 Wh kg-1 is provided by the asymmetric supercapacitor (MoO2/MoS2//AC). The capacitance of asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) is remarkably enhanced by 129.02% under 5000 cycles at a current density of 1.5 A g-1, demonstrating outstanding cycle property. These results imply the prepared MoO2/MoS2 NCs have promising applications in advanced energy storages. It is important and should be noted that NCs of oxide and sulfide are prepared with only a simple one-step process.

Hierarchical Co3O4@Ni3S2 electrode materials for energy storage and conversion

Transition metal oxides are considered to be one of the most potential electrode materials. However, poor conductivity and insufficient active sites limit their actual applications. Rationally designed electrode materials with unique structural features can be ascribed to the efficient route for enhancing electrochemical performance. Here, we report hybrid Co₃O₄@Ni₃S₂ nanostructures obtained via a hydrothermal strategy and subsequent electrodeposition process. The obtained products can be used as electrodes for a hybrid supercapacitor with a specific capacity of 1071 C g^-1 at 1 A g^-1 and excellent rate capability. The as-assembled device delivers an energy density of 77.92 W h kg^-1 at 2880 W kg^-1. As an electrocatalyst, the above electrode possesses an overpotential of 237.6 mV at 50 mA cm^-2 for oxygen evolution reaction.

Sulfide with Oxygen-Rich Carbon Network for Good Lithium-Storage Kinetics

Transition metal sulfides are of great interest as electrode material for alkali metal-ion batteries due to their high theoretical capacity. However, sluggish ion migration and electron transfer kinetics lead to poor cycling stability and rate performance, which hinders their practical applications. Herein, we develop a two-step localized carbonization and sulfurization method to construct a CoS₂ composite material (CoS₂@CNTs@C) from an in situ integrated zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-67) and multiwalled carbon nanotube precursor (ZIF-67@CNTs). The as-prepared CoS₂@CNTs@C composites with a nanoscale carbon skeleton inherit a large specific surface area and suitable nanopore size distribution from ZIF-67 and incredibly abundant oxygenated functional groups from CNTs. The theoretical calculation and material characterization demonstrate that the oxygenated functional groups on the porous carbon networks accelerate lithium-ion diffusion and electron transfer and especially electrocatalyze the progressive conversion of Li₂S₆ to the final product Li₂S. Meanwhile, the three-dimensional conductive network guarantees the conductive and structural stability of CoS₂@CNTs@C during the repeated lithium-storage process. Therefore, the CoS₂@CNTs@C electrode material can deliver an initial discharge capacity of 1282.3 mA h g^-1 at 200 mA g^-1 with a high Coulombic efficiency of 93.5% and a reversible capacity of 558.8 mA h g^-1 at 2000 mA g^-1 in 600 cycles with a high capacity retention of 96.1%.

Facile In Situ Synthesis of Co(OH)2-Ni3S2 Nanowires on Ni Foam for Use in High-Energy-Density Supercapacitors

Ni3S2 nanowires were synthesized in situ using a one-pot hydrothermal reaction on Ni foam (NF) for use in supercapacitors as a positive electrode, and various contents (0.3-0.6 mmol) of Co(OH)2 shells were coated onto the surfaces of the Ni3S2 nanowire cores to improve the electrochemical properties. The Ni3S2 nanowires were uniformly formed on the smooth NF surface, and the Co(OH)2 shell was formed on the Ni3S2 nanowire surface. By direct NF participation as a reactant without adding any other Ni source, Ni3S2 was formed more closely to the NF surface, and the Co(OH)2 shell suppressed the loss of active material during charging-discharging, yielding excellent electrochemical properties. The Co(OH)2-Ni3S2/Ni electrode produced using 0.5 mmol Co(OH)2 (Co0.5-Ni3S2/Ni) exhibited a high specific capacitance of 1837 F g-1 (16.07 F cm-2) at a current density of 5 mA cm-2, and maintained a capacitance of 583 F g-1 (16.07 F cm-2) at a much higher current density of 50 mA cm-2. An asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) with Co(OH)2-Ni3S2 and active carbon displayed a high-power density of 1036 kW kg-1 at an energy density of 43 W h kg-1 with good cycling stability, indicating its suitability for use in energy storage applications. Thus, the newly developed core-shell structure, Co(OH)2-Ni3S2, was shown to be efficient at improving the electrochemical performance.