An Approach to Preparing Ni-P with Different Phases for Use as Supercapacitor Electrode Materials

Abstract

Herein, we describe a simple two-step approach to prepare nickel phosphide with different phases, such as Ni2 P and Ni5 P4 , to explain the influence of material microstructure and electrical conductivity on electrochemical performance. In this approach, we first prepared a Ni-P precursor through a ball milling process, then controlled the synthesis of either Ni2 P or Ni5 P4 by the annealing method. The as-prepared Ni2 P and Ni5 P4 are investigated as supercapacitor electrode materials for potential energy storage applications. The Ni2 P exhibits a high specific capacitance of 843.25 F g(-1) , whereas the specific capacitance of Ni5 P4 is 801.5 F g(-1) . Ni2 P possesses better cycle stability and rate capability than Ni5 P4 . In addition, the Fe2 O3 //Ni2 P supercapacitor displays a high energy density of 35.5 Wh kg(-1) at a power density of 400 W kg(-1) and long cycle stability with a specific capacitance retention rate of 96 % after 1000 cycles, whereas the Fe2 O3 //Ni5 P4 supercapacitor exhibits a high energy density of 29.8 Wh kg(-1) at a power density of 400 W kg(-1) and a specific capacitance retention rate of 86 % after 1000 cycles.

Keywords: electrical conductivity; electrode materials; nickel phosphide; power sources; supercapacitors.