Hybrid supercapacitor-battery materials for fast electrochemical charge storage

Molybdenum Sulfide Nanoflowers as Electrodes for Efficient and Scalable Lithium-Ion Capacitors

Hybrid supercapacitors (HSCs) bridge the unique advantages of batteries and capacitors and are considered promising energy storage devices for hybrid vehicles and other electronic gadgets. Lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) have attained particular interest due to their higher energy and power density than traditional supercapacitor devices. The limited voltage window and the deterioration of anode materials upsurged the demand for efficient and stable electrode materials. Two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) is a promising candidate for developing efficient and durable LICs due to its wide lithiation potential and unique layer structure, enhancing charge storage efficiency. Modifying the extrinsic features, such as the dimensions and shape at the nanoscale, serves as a potential path to overcome the sluggish kinetics observed in the LICs. Herein, the MoS2 nanoflowers have been synthesized through a hydrothermal route. The developed LIC exhibited a specific capacitance of 202.4 F g-1 at 0.25 A g-1 and capacitance retention of >90 % over 5,000 cycles. Using an ether electrolyte improved the voltage window (2.0 V) and enhanced the stability performance. The ex-situ material characterization after the stability test reveals that the storage mechanism in MoS2-LICs is not diffusion-controlled. Instead, the fast surface redox reactions, especially intercalation/deintercalation of ions, are more prominent for charge storage.

Current Trends and Perspectives of Polymers in Batteries

This Perspective aims to present the current status and future opportunities for polymer science in battery technologies. Polymers play a crucial role in improving the performance of the ubiquitous lithium ion battery. But they will be even more important for the development of sustainable and versatile post-lithium battery technologies, in particular solid-state batteries. In this article, we identify the trends in the design and development of polymers for battery applications including binders for electrodes, porous separators, solid electrolytes, or redox-active electrode materials. These trends will be illustrated using a selection of recent polymer developments including new ionic polymers, biobased polymers, self-healing polymers, mixed-ionic electronic conducting polymers, inorganic-polymer composites, or redox polymers to give some examples. Finally, the future needs, opportunities, and directions of the field will be highlighted.

Microwave engineered NiZrO3@GNP as efficient electrode material for energy storage applications

Supercapacitors (SCs) have emerged as attractive energy storage devices due to their rapid charge/discharge rates, long cycle life, and high-power density. However, the development of innovative electrode materials to achieve high-performance remains crucial to meet future requirements in supercapacitor technology. In this work, we have explored the potential of a microwave-engineered NiZrO3@GNP composite as a promising electrode material for SCs. A microwave assisted hydrothermal approach was adopted for the fabrication of the NiZrO3@GNP nanocomposite. Structural and morphological investigations showed its structural richness and its chemical compositions. When applied as a SC electrode, this innovative combination exhibits battery-like behaviour with higher specific capacity (577.63 C g-1) with good cyclic stability, and good performance. We have assembled an asymmetric-type two-electrode SC device and analysed its electrochemical features. This NiZrO3@GNP device exhibits the specific capacity of 47 C g-1 with capacitance retention of 70% after 2000 charge-discharge cycles. Further research on optimizing the synthesis process and exploring different device configurations could pave the way for even higher-performance supercapacitors in the future.

Redox: Organic Robust Radicals and Their Polymers for Energy Conversion/Storage Devices

Persistent radicals can hold their unpaired electrons even under conditions where they accumulate, leading to the unique characteristics of radical ensembles with open-shell structures and their molecular properties, such as magneticity, radical trapping, catalysis, charge storage, and electrical conductivity. The molecules also display fast, reversible redox reactions, which have attracted particular attention for energy conversion and storage devices. This paper reviews the electrochemical aspects of persistent radicals and the corresponding macromolecules, radical polymers. Radical structures and their redox reactions are introduced, focusing on redox potentials, bistability, and kinetic constants for electrode reactions and electron self-exchange reactions. Unique charge transport and storage properties are also observed with the accumulated form of redox sites in radical polymers. The radical molecules have potential electrochemical applications, including in rechargeable batteries, redox flow cells, photovoltaics, diodes, and transistors, and in catalysts, which are reviewed in the last part of this paper.

Progress of Photocapacitors

In response to the current trend of miniaturization of electronic devices and sensors, the complementary coupling of high-efficiency energy conversion and low-loss energy storage technologies has given rise to the development of photocapacitors (PCs), which combine energy conversion and storage in a single device. Photovoltaic systems integrated with supercapacitors offer unique light conversion and storage capabilities, resulting in improved overall efficiency over the past decade. Consequently, researchers have explored a wide range of device combinations, materials, and characterization techniques. This review provides a comprehensive overview of photocapacitors, including their configurations, operating mechanisms, manufacturing techniques, and materials, with a focus on emerging applications in small wireless devices, Internet of Things (IoT), and Internet of Everything (IoE). Furthermore, we highlight the importance of cutting-edge materials such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and organic materials for supercapacitors, as well as novel materials in photovoltaics, in advancing PCs for a carbon-free, sustainable society. We also evaluate the potential development, prospects, and application scenarios of this emerging area of research.

α-NiO/Ni(OH)2/AgNP/F-Graphene Composite for Energy Storage Application

The α-NiO/Ni(OH)₂/AgNP/F-graphene composite, which is silver nanoparticles preanchored on the surface of fluorinated graphene (AgNP/FG) and then added to α-NiO/Ni(OH)₂, is investigated as a potential battery material. The addition of AgNP/FG endows the electrochemical redox reaction of α-NiO/Ni(OH)₂ with a synergistic effect, resulting in enhanced Faradaic efficiency with the redox reactions of silver accompanied by the OER and the ORR. It resulted in enhanced specific capacitance (F g^-1) and capacity (mA h g^-1). The specific capacitance of α-NiO/Ni(OH)₂ increased from 148 to 356 F g^-1 with the addition of AgNP(20)/FG, while it increased to 226 F g^-1 with the addition of AgNPs alone without F-graphene. The specific capacitance of α-NiO/Ni(OH)₂/AgNP(20)/FG further increased up to 1153 F g^-1 with a change in the voltage scan rate from 20 to 5 mV/s and the Nafion-free α-NiO/Ni(OH)₂/AgNP(20)/FG composite. In a similar trend, the specific capacity of α-NiO/Ni(OH)₂ increased from 266 to 545 mA h g^-1 by the addition of AgNP(20)/FG. The performance of hybrid Zn-Ni/Ag/air electrochemical reactions by α-NiO/Ni(OH)₂/AgNP(200)/FG and Zn-coupled electrodes indicates a potential for a secondary battery. It results in a specific capacity of 1200 mA h g^-1 and a specific energy of 660 W h kg^-1, which is divided into Zn-Ni reactions of ∼95 W h kg^-1 and Zn-Ag/air reactions of ∼420 W h kg^-1, while undergoing a Zn-air reaction of ∼145 W h kg^-1.

Square-Facet Nanobar MOF-Derived Co3O4@Co/N-doped CNT Core-Shell-based Nanocomposites as Cathode Materials for High-Performance Supercapacitor Studies

The binary as well as ternary nanocomposites of the square-facet nanobar Co-MOF-derived Co₃O₄@Co/N-CNTs (N-CNTs: nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes) with Ag NPs and rGO have been synthesized via an easy wet chemical route, and their supercapacitor behavior was then studied. At a controlled pH of the precursor solution, square-facet nanobars of Co-MOF were first synthesized by the solvothermal method and then pyrolyzed under a controlled nitrogen atmosphere to get a core-shell system of Co₃O₄@Co/N-CNTs. In the second step, different compositions of Co₃O₄@Co/N-CNT core-shell structures were formed by an ex-situ method with Ag NPs and rGO moieties. Among several bare, binary, and ternary compositions tested in 6 M aqueous KOH electrolyte, a ternary nanocomposite having a 7.0:1.5:1.5 stoichiometric ratio of Co₃O₄@Co/N-CNT, Ag NPs, and rGO, respectively, reported the highest specific capacitance (3393.8 F g^-1 at 5 mV s^-1). The optimized nanocomposite showed the energy density, power density, and Coulombic efficiency of 74.1 W h.kg^-1, 443.7 W.kg^-1, and 101.3%, respectively, with excellent electrochemical stability. After testing an asymmetrical supercapacitor with a Co₃O₄@Co/N-CNT/Ag NPs/rGO/nickel foam cathode and an activated carbon/nickel foam anode, it showed 4.9 W h.kg^-1 of energy density and 5000.0 W.kg^-1 of power density.

Facile Fabrication of Polyaniline/Pbs Nanocomposite for High-Performance Supercapacitor Application

In this work, a polyaniline/lead sulfide (PANI/PbS) nanocomposite was prepared by combining the in situ oxidation polymerization method and the surface adsorption process. This nanocomposite was applied as a supercapacitor electrode. The crystal structure, nanomorphology, and optical analysis of PANI and PANI/PbS were investigated. The electrochemical performance of the designed PANI/PbS electrode-based supercapacitor was tested by using cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronopotentiometry (CP), and AC impedance techniques in HCl and Na2SO4 electrolytes. The average crystallite size of the PANI/PbS nanocomposite is about 43 nm. PANI/PbS possesses an agglomerated network related to PANI with additional spherical shapes from PbS nanoparticles. After the PANI/PbS nanocomposite formation, there are enhancements in their absorption intensities. At a current density of 0.4 A g-1, the specific capacitance of PANI/PbS in Na2SO4 and HCl was found to be 303 and 625 F g-1, respectively. In HCl (625 F g-1 and 1500 mF cm-2), the gravimetric and areal capacitances of the PANI/PbS electrode are nearly double those of the Na2SO4 electrolyte. Also, the average specific energy and specific power density values for the PANI/PbS electrode in HCl are 4.168 Wh kg-1 and 196.03 W kg-1, respectively. After 5000 cycles, the capacitance loses only 4.5% of its initial value. The results refer to the high stability and good performance of the designed PANI/PbS as a supercapacitor electrode.

Recent Development in Vanadium Pentoxide and Carbon Hybrid Active Materials for Energy Storage Devices

With the increasing energy demand for portable electronics, electric vehicles, and green energy storage solutions, the development of high-performance supercapacitors has been at the forefront of energy storage and conversion research. In the past decade, many scientific publications have been dedicated to designing hybrid electrode materials composed of vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) and carbon nanomaterials to bridge the gap in energy and power of traditional batteries and capacitors. V2O5 is a promising electrode material owing to its natural abundance, nontoxicity, and high capacitive potential. However, bulk V2O5 is limited by poor conductivity, low porosity, and dissolution during charge/discharge cycles. To overcome the limitations of V2O5, many researchers have incorporated common carbon nanostructures such as reduced graphene oxides, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, and other carbon moieties into V2O5. The carbon components facilitate electron mobility and act as porous templates for V2O5 nucleation with an enhanced surface area as well as interconnected surface morphology and structural stability. This review discusses the development of various V2O5/carbon hybrid materials, focusing on the effects of different synthesis methods, V2O5/carbon compositions, and physical treatment strategies on the structure and electrochemical performance of the composite material as promising supercapacitor electrodes.

Design of ZIF-67 MOF-derived Co3O4/NiCo2O4 nanosheets for supercapacitor electrode materials

Binary transition metal oxides exhibit improved properties including good redox potentials and electrical conductivities compared with single metal oxides as electrode materials in energy storage. Herein, ZIF-67 is prepared by a one-step method using Co2+ as the central metal ion, 2-methylimidazole as the organic ligand, and methanol as an organic solvent at room temperature. Hollow NiCo2O4 and sheet-like Co3O4/NiCo2O4 derived from bimetallic imidazolate framework precursors were synthesized by adding cobalt and nickel ions in appropriate proportions. A hollow and porous structure is achieved for the reaction between a nickel salt and ZIF-67, and this unique nanostructure provides a high active surface area, which is beneficial to the electrochemical properties. Several samples are prepared and used as electrode materials for electrochemical tests in 6 M KOH. As a result, the Co3O4/NiCo2O4 electrode with a sheet nanostructure showed a high specific capacitance of 846 F g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1. This Co3O4/NiCo2O4 electrode material is promising for future studies on high-performance supercapacitors to solve emerging energy-related problems.

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A PROXYL-Type Norbornene Polymer for High-Voltage Cathodes in Lithium Batteries

A newly designed radical polymer with a polynorbornene backbone and unsaturated derivative of tetramethylpyrrolidine 1-oxyl (PROXYL) as pendant groups displays reversible redox at 3.75 V (vs Li/Li⁺ ). The robust polymer design enables the high voltage while maintaining a promising cyclability (over 1000 cycles). The polymer is also beneficial as an additive to the regular lithium iron phosphate electrodes, where the quickly responding organic material facilitates the charging reactions catalytically.

Recent Progress on Two-Dimensional Carbon Materials for Emerging Post-Lithium (Na+, K+, Zn2+) Hybrid Supercapacitors

The hybrid ion capacitor (HIC) is a hybrid electrochemical energy storage device that combines the intercalation mechanism of a lithium-ion battery anode with the double-layer mechanism of the cathode. Thus, an HIC combines the high energy density of batteries and the high power density of supercapacitors, thus bridging the gap between batteries and supercapacitors. Two-dimensional (2D) carbon materials (graphite, graphene, carbon nanosheets) are promising candidates for hybrid capacitors owing to their unique physical and chemical properties, including their enormous specific surface areas, abundance of active sites (surface and functional groups), and large interlayer spacing. So far, there has been no review focusing on the 2D carbon-based materials for the emerging post-lithium hybrid capacitors. This concept review considers the role of 2D carbon in hybrid capacitors and the recent progress in the application of 2D carbon materials for post-Li (Na+, K+, Zn2+) hybrid capacitors. Moreover, their challenges and trends in their future development are discussed.

Application of Redox-Responsive Hydrogels Based on 2,2,6,6-Tetramethyl-1-Piperidinyloxy Methacrylate and Oligo(Ethyleneglycol) Methacrylate in Controlled Release and Catalysis

Hydrogels have reached momentum due to their potential application in a variety of fields including their ability to deliver active molecules upon application of a specific chemical or physical stimulus and to act as easily recyclable catalysts in a green chemistry approach. In this paper, we demonstrate that the same redox-responsive hydrogels based on polymer networks containing 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) stable nitroxide radicals and oligoethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate (OEGMA) can be successfully used either for the electrochemically triggered release of aspirin or as catalysts for the oxidation of primary alcohols into aldehydes. For the first application, we take the opportunity of the positive charges present on the oxoammonium groups of oxidized TEMPO to encapsulate negatively charged aspirin molecules. The further electrochemical reduction of oxoammonium groups into nitroxide radicals triggers the release of aspirin molecules. For the second application, our hydrogels are swelled with benzylic alcohol and tert-butyl nitrite as co-catalyst and the temperature is raised to 50 °C to start the oxidation reaction. Interestingly enough, benzaldehyde is not miscible with our hydrogels and phase-separate on top of them allowing the easy recovery of the reaction product and the recyclability of the hydrogel catalyst.

High Power Cathodes from Poly(2,2,6,6-Tetramethyl-1-Piperidinyloxy Methacrylate)/Li(NixMnyCoz)O2 Hybrid Composites

Lithium-ion batteries are today among the most efficient devices for electrochemical energy storage. However, an improvement of their performance is required to address the challenges of modern grid management, portable technology, and electric mobility. One of the most important limitations to solve is the slow kinetics of redox reactions associated to inorganic cathodic materials, directly impacting on the charging time and the power characteristics of the cells. In sharp contrast, redox polymers such as poly(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy methacrylate) (PTMA) exhibit fast redox reaction kinetics and pseudocapacitors characteristics. In this contribution, we have hybridized high energy Li(Ni_xMn_yCo_z)O₂ mixed oxides (NMC) with PTMA. In this hybrid cathode configuration, the higher voltage NMC (ca. 3.7 V vs. Li/Li⁺) is able to transfer its energy to the lower voltage PTMA (3.6 V vs. Li/Li⁺) improving the discharge power performances and allowing high power cathodes to be obtained. However, the NMC-PTMA hybrid cathodes show an important capacity fading. Our investigations indicate the presence of an interface degradation reaction between NMC and PTMA transforming NMC into an electrochemically dead material. Moreover, the aqueous process used here to prepare the cathode is also shown to enable the degradation of NMC. Indeed, once NMC is immersed in water, alkaline surface species dissolve, increasing the pH of the slurry, and corroding the aluminum current collector. Additionally, the NMC surface is altered due to delithiation which enables the interface degradation reaction to take place. This reaction by surface passivation of NMC particles did not succeed in preventing the interfacial degradation. Degradation was, however, notably decreased when Li(Ni_0.8Mn_0.1Co_0.1)O₂ NMC was used and even further when alumina-coated Li(Ni_0.8Mn_0.1Co_0.1)O₂ NMC was considered. For the latter at a 20C discharge rate, the hybrids presented higher power performances compared to the single constituents, clearly emphasizing the benefits of the hybrid cathode concept.

High Capacity and Energy Density Organic Lithium-Ion Battery Based on Buckypaper with Stable π-Radical

Owing to an increasing demand on high performance and rare-metal free energy storage systems, organic rechargeable battery has attracted much attention. To increase the capacity of the whole battery, we have fabricated coin-type buckypaper cells composed of a trioxotriangulene neutral radical derivative (H₃ TOT) and single-walled carbon nanotubes as a cathode and lithium metal plate as an anode without current collector. The cells exhibited a stable charge-discharge behavior even at a 90 wt % H₃ TOT content with a high-rate performance of 10 C originating from high electrical conductivity of H₃ TOT. Furthermore, based on the four-stage redox ability of H₃ TOT, the H₃ TOT 90 wt % cathode showed a high capacity of approximately 260 mAh g^-1 and a high energy density of 546 Wh g^-1 . In view of the simple fabrication of the cathode and excellent performance, TOT-based buckypaper will open a new strategy for the flexible cells for next-generation energy storages.

Nitroxide radical polymers for emerging plastic energy storage and organic electronics: fundamentals, materials, and applications

Increasing demand for portable and flexible electronic devices requires seamless integration of the energy storage system with other electronic components. This ever-growing area has urged on the rapid development of new electroactive materials that not only possess excellent electrochemical properties but hold capabilities to be fabricated to desired shapes. Ideally, these new materials should have minimal impact on the environment at the end of their life. Nitroxide radical polymers (NRPs) with their remarkable electrochemical and physical properties stand out from diverse organic redox systems and have attracted tremendous attention for their identified applications in plastic energy storage and organic devices. In this review, we present a comprehensive summary of NRPs with respect to the fundamental electrochemical properties, design principles and fabrication methods for different types of energy storage systems and organic electronic devices. While highlighting some exciting progress on charge transfer theory and emerging applications, we end up with a discussion on the challenges and opportunities regarding the future directions of this field.

Deep Cycling for High-Capacity Li-Ion Batteries

As the practical capacity of conventional Li-ion batteries (LIBs) approaches the theoretical limit, which is determined by the rocking-chair cycling architecture, a new cycling architecture with higher capacity is highly demanded for future development and electronic applications. Here, a deep-cycling architecture intrinsically with a higher theoretical capacity limit than conventional rocking-chair cycling architecture is developed, by introducing a follow-up cycling process to contribute more capacity. The deep-cycling architecture makes full use of movable ions in both of the electrolyte and electrodes for energy storage, rather than in either the electrolyte or the electrodes. Taking LiMn₂ O₄ -mesocarbon microbeads (MCMB)/Li cells as a proof-of-concept, 57.7% more capacity is obtained. Moreover, the capacity retention is as high as 84.4% after 2000 charging/discharging cycles. The deep-cycling architecture offers opportunities to break the theoretical capacity limit of conventional LIBs and makes high demands for new-type of cathode materials, which will promote the development of next-generation energy storage devices.

Design of Porous Carbons for Supercapacitor Applications for Different Organic Solvent-Electrolytes

The challenge of optimizing the pore size distribution of porous electrodes for different electrolytes is encountered in supercapacitors, lithium-ion capacitors and hybridized battery-supercapacitor devices. A volume-averaged continuum model of ion transport, taking into account the pore size distribution, is employed for the design of porous electrodes for electrochemical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) in this study. After validation against experimental data, computer simulations investigate two types of porous electrodes, an activated carbon coating and an activated carbon fabric, and three electrolytes: 1.5 M TEABF4 in acetonitrile (AN), 1.5 M TEABF4 in propylene carbonate (PC), and 1 M LiPF6 in ethylene carbonate:ethyl methyl carbonate (EC:EMC) 1:1 v/v. The design exercise concluded that it is important that the porous electrode has a large specific area in terms of micropores larger than the largest desolvated ion, to achieve high specific capacity, and a good proportion of mesopores larger than the largest solvated ion to ensure fast ion transport and accessibility of the micropores.

TEMPO-Substituted Poly(ethylene sulfide) for Solid-State Electro-Chemical Charge Storage

A poly(ethylene sulfide) backbone is introduced as the main chain of a radical polymer. Anionic ring-opening polymerization of an episulfide monomer substituted with 2,2,6,6tetramethylpiperidin1oxyl (TEMPO), a robust nitroxide radical, yields the corresponding polythioether. Compared to the traditional poly(ethylene oxide) backbone, the new polymer shows a lower glass transition temperature (-10 °C), and about threefold higher solid-state ionic conductivity. The polythioether is also shown to improve the charge/discharge properties of a cathode in solid-state lithium-ion batteries.

Structure-properties relationship for energy storage redox polymers: a review

Redox-active polymers among the energy storage materials (ESMs) are very attractive due to their exceptional advantages such as high stability and processability as well as their simple manufacturing. Their applications are found to useful in electric vehicle, ultraright computers, intelligent electric gadgets, mobile sensor systems, and portable intelligent clothing. They are found to be more efficient and advantageous in terms of superior processing capacity, quick loading unloading, stronger security, lengthy life cycle, versatility, adjustment to various scales, excellent fabrication process capabilities, light weight, flexible, most significantly cost efficiency, and non-toxicity in order to satisfy the requirement for the usage of these potential applications. The redox-active polymers are produced through organic synthesis, which allows the design and free modification of chemical constructions, which allow for the structure of organic compounds. The redox-active polymers can be finely tuned for the desired ESMs applications with their chemical structures and electrochemical properties. The redox-active polymers synthesis also offers the benefits of high-scale, relatively low reaction, and a low demand for energy. In this review we discussed the relationship between structural properties of different polymers for solar energy and their energy storage applications.

A new design strategy for redox-active molecular assemblies with crystalline porous structures for lithium-ion batteries

A new design strategy for the high-performance organic cathode-active materials of lithium-ion batteries is presented, which involves the assembly of redox-active organic molecules with a crystalline porous structure.

A new design strategy for high-performance organic cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries is presented, which involves the assembly of redox-active organic molecules with a crystalline porous structure using mixed-stacked charge-transfer (CT) complexes. Hexahydroxytriphenylene was used as a donor molecule and 1,4,5,8,9,12-hexaazatriphenylene-2,3,6,7,10,11-hexacarbonitrile as an acceptor molecule to give a new porous CT complex (PCT-1) with a pseudo-hexagonal mixed columnar structure. X-ray diffraction measurements and sorption experiments demonstrated that the intercolumnar spaces in PCT-1 can incorporate various molecules accompanied by lattice expansion. A lithium metal battery containing PCT-1 as a cathode active material exhibited a high capacity of 288 mA h g^–1 at 500 mA g^–1, and this performance was attributed to a combination of the redox-active units and the porous structure of PCT-1.

Redox mediators as charge agents for changing electrochemical reactions

This review provides a comprehensive discussion toward understanding the effects of RMs in electrochemical systems, underlying redox mechanisms, and reaction kinetics both experimentally and theoretically.

Asymmetric faradaic assembly of Bi2O3 and MnO2 for a high-performance hybrid electrochemical energy storage device

In the current study, we have explored the coupling of Bi2O3 negative electrode and MnO2 positive electrode materials as an asymmetric faradaic assembly for a high-performance hybrid electrochemical energy storage device (HEESD). Aiming at a low-cost device, both the electrodes have been synthesized by a simple, scalable, and cost-effective chemical synthesis method. After their requisite structure-morphological confirmation and correlation, these electrodes were separately examined for their electrochemical performance in a three-electrode configuration. The results obtained confirm that Bi2O3 and MnO2 exhibit 910 C g-1 and 424 C g-1 specific capacity, respectively, at 2 A g-1 current density. Notably, the performance of both electrodes has been analyzed using Dunn's method to highlight the distinct nature of their faradaic properties. Afterwards, the asymmetric faradaic assembly of both electrodes, when assembled as a HEESD (MnO2//Bi2O3), delivered 411 C g-1 specific capacity at 1 A g-1 current density due to the inclusive contribution from the capacitive as well as the non-capacitive faradaic quotient. Consequently, the assembly offers an excellent energy density of 79 W h kg-1 at a power density of 702 W kg-1, with a magnificent retention of energy density up to 21.1 W h kg-1 at 14 339 W kg-1 power density. Moreover, it demonstrates long-term cycling stability at 10 A g-1, retaining 85.2% of its initial energy density after 5000 cycles, which is significant in comparison with the previously reported literature. Additionally, to check the performance of the device in real time, two HEESDs were connected in series to power a light-emitting diode. The results obtained provide significant insight into hybrid coupling, where two different faradaic electrodes can be combined in a synergistic combination for a high-performance HEESD.

Fast-Charging High-Energy Battery-Supercapacitor Hybrid: Anodic Reduced Graphene Oxide-Vanadium(IV) Oxide Sheet-on-Sheet Heterostructure

The battery-supercapacitor hybrid (BSH) device has potential applications in energy storage and can be a remedy for low-power batteries and low-energy supercapacitors. Although several studies have investigated electrode materials (particularly for a battery-type anode material) and design for BSHs, the energy density and power density are insufficient (far from the levels required for practical applications). Herein, a hierarchical vanadium(IV) oxide on reduced graphene oxide (rGO@VO₂) heterostructure as an anode and activated carbon on carbon cloth (AC@CC) as a cathode are proposed for fabricating an advanced BSH. The mixed valency of V ions inside the as-prepared VO₂ matrix (V³⁺ and V⁴⁺) facilitates redox reactions at a low potential, giving rise to rGO@VO₂ as a typical anode with a working potential of 0.01-3 V (vs Li/Li⁺). The sheet-on-sheet heterostructured rGO@VO₂ yields a high specific capacity of 1214 mAh g^-1 at 0.1 A g^-1 after 120 cycles, with a high rate capability and stability. The rGO@VO₂//AC@CC BSH device exhibits a maximum gravimetric energy density of 126.7 Wh kg^-1 and a maximum gravimetric power density of ∼10 000 W kg^-1 within a working voltage range of 1-4 V. Moreover, it exhibits fast charging times of 5 and 834 s with energy densities of 15.6 and 82 Wh kg ^-1, respectively.

Synthesis of Bi2O3-MnO2 Nanocomposite Electrode for Wide-Potential Window High Performance Supercapacitor

In this work, we report the synthesis of a Bi2O3-MnO2 nanocomposite as an electrochemical supercapacitor (ES) electrode via a simple, low-cost, eco-friendly, and low-temperature solid-state chemical process followed by air annealing. This as-synthesized nanocomposite was initially examined in terms of its structure, morphology, phase purity, and surface area using different analytical techniques and thereafter subjected to electrochemical measurements. Its electrochemical performance demonstrated excellent supercapacitive properties in a wide potential window. Its specific capacitance was able to reach 161 F g−1 at a current density of 1A g−1 and then showed a superior rate capability up to 10 A g−1. Furthermore, it demonstrated promising cycling stability at 5 A g−1 with 95% retention even after 10,000 charge–discharge cycles in a wide potential window of 1.3 V, evidencing the synergistic impact of both Bi2O3 and MnO2 in the Bi2O3-MnO2 ES electrode. Additionally, the practical reliability of the envisioned electrode was ascertained by the fabrication of a symmetric Bi2O3-MnO2//Bi2O3-MnO2 pencil-type supercapacitor device that displayed an energy density of 18.4 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 600 W kg−1 and a substantial cyclic stability up to 5000 cycles. Subsequently, an LED was also powered at its full brightness using three of these devices connected in series in order to demonstrate the real-time application of the Bi2O3-MnO2 ES electrode.

Novel mesoporous electrode materials for symmetric, asymmetric and hybrid supercapacitors

Electrochemical capacitors or supercapacitors have achieved great interest in the recent past due to their potential applications ranging from microelectronic devices to hybrid electric vehicles. Supercapacitors can provide high power densities but their inherently low energy density remains a great challenge. The high-performance supercapacitors utilize large electrode surface area for electrochemical double-layer capacitance and/or pseudocapacitance. To enhance the performance of supercapacitors, various strategies have been adopted such as electrode nanostructuring, hybrid electrode designs using nanocomposite electrodes and hybrid supercapacitor (HSC) configurations. Nanoarchitecturing of electrode-active materials is an effective way of enhancing the performance of supercapacitors as it increases the effective electrode surface area for enhanced electrode/electrolyte interaction. In this review, we focus on the recent developments in the novel electrode materials and various hybrid designs used in supercapacitors for obtaining high specific capacitance and energy density. A family of electrode-active materials including carbon nanomaterials, transition metal-oxides, transition metal-nitrides, transition metal-hydroxides, electronically conducting polymers, and their nanocomposites are discussed in detail. The HSC configurations for attaining enhanced supercapacitor performance as well as strategies to integrate with other microelectronic devices/wearable fabrics are also included.

Simultaneous Electrochemical Deposition of Cobalt Complex and Poly(pyrrole) Thin Films for Supercapacitor Electrodes

Supercapacitors are beneficial as energy storage devices and can obtain high capacitance values greater than conventional capacitors and high power densities compared to batteries. However, in order to improve upon the overall cost, energy density, and charge-discharge rates, the electrode material of supercapacitors needs to be fine-tuned with an inexpensive, high conducting source. We prepared a Co(III) complex and polypyrrole (PPy) composite thin films (CoN₄-PPy) that was electrochemically deposited on the surface of a glassy carbon working electrode. Cyclic voltammetry studies indicate the superior performance of CoN₄-PPy in charge storage in acidic electrolyte compared to alkaline and organic solutions. The CoN₄-PPy material generated the highest amount of specific capacitance (up to 721.9 F/g) followed by Co salt and PPy (Co-PPy) material and PPy alone. Cyclic performance studies showed the excellent electrochemical stability of the CoN₄-PPy film in the acidic medium. Simply electrochemically depositing an inexpensive Co(III) complex with a high electrically conducting polymer of PPy delivered a superior electrode material for supercapacitor applications. Therefore, the results indicate that novel thin films derived from Co(III) metal complex and PPy can store a large amount of energy and maintain high stability over many cycles, revealing its excellent potential in supercapacitor devices.

Practical use of polymer brushes in sustainable energy applications: interfacial nanoarchitectonics for high-efficiency devices

The discovery and development of novel approaches, materials and manufacturing processes in the field of energy are compelling increasing recognition as a major challenge for contemporary societies. The performance and lifetime of energy devices are critically dependent on nanoscale interfacial phenomena. From the viewpoint of materials design, the improvement of current technologies inevitably relies on gaining control over the complex interface between dissimilar materials. In this sense, interfacial nanoarchitectonics with polymer brushes has seen growing interest due to its potential to overcome many of the limitations of energy storage and conversion devices. Polymer brushes offer a broad variety of resources to manipulate interfacial properties and gain molecular control over the synergistic combination of materials. Many recent examples show that the rational integration of polymer brushes in hybrid nanoarchitectures greatly improves the performance of energy devices in terms of power density, lifetime and stability. Seen in this light, polymer brushes provide a new perspective from which to consider the development of hybrid materials and devices with improved functionalities. The aim of this review is therefore to focus on what polymer brush-based solutions can offer and to show how the practical use of surface-grafted polymer layers can improve the performance and efficiency of fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, organic radical batteries, supercapacitors, photoelectrochemical cells and photovoltaic devices.

Stable Radical Materials for Energy Applications

Although less studied than their closed-shell counterparts, materials containing stable open-shell chemistries have played a key role in many energy storage and energy conversion devices. In particular, the oxidation-reduction (redox) properties of these stable radicals have made them a substantial contributor to the progress of organic batteries. Moreover, the use of radical-based materials in photovoltaic devices and thermoelectric systems has allowed for these emerging molecules to have impacts in the energy conversion realm. Additionally, the unique doublet states of radical-based materials provide access to otherwise inaccessible spin states in optoelectronic devices, offering many new opportunities for efficient usage of energy in light-emitting devices. Here, we review the current state of the art regarding the molecular design, synthesis, and application of stable radicals in these energy-related applications. Finally, we point to fundamental and applied arenas of future promise for these designer open-shell molecules, which have only just begun to be evaluated in full.