One-Step Synthesis of Self-Supported Ni3S2/NiS Composite Film on Ni Foam by Electrodeposition for High-Performance Supercapacitors

Haifu Huang; Xiaoli Deng; Liqing Yan; Geng Wei; Wenzheng Zhou; Xianqing Liang; Jin Guo

doi:10.3390/nano9121718

One-Step Synthesis of Self-Supported Ni₃S₂/NiS Composite Film on Ni Foam by Electrodeposition for High-Performance Supercapacitors

Nanomaterials (Basel). 2019 Dec 2;9(12):1718. doi: 10.3390/nano9121718.

Authors

Haifu Huang^{1

2}, Xiaoli Deng¹, Liqing Yan¹, Geng Wei¹, Wenzheng Zhou^{1

2}, Xianqing Liang^{1

2}, Jin Guo^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Guangxi Novel Battery Materials Research Center of Engineering Technology, Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Novel Energy Materials and Related Technology, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Relativistic Astrophysics, Center on Nanoenergy Research, School of Physics Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
² Guangxi Key Laboratory of Processing for Non-ferrous Metallic and Featured Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.

Abstract

Herein, a facile one-step electrodeposition route was presented for preparing Ni₃S₂/NiS composite film on Ni foam substrate (denoted as NiS_x/NF). The NiS_x granular film is composed of mangy interconnected ultra-thin NiS_x nanoflakes with porous structures. When applied as electrodes for supercapacitors, the ultra-thin nanoflakes can provide more active sites for redox reaction, and the interconnected porous structure has an advantage for electrolyte ions to penetrate into the inner space of active materials quickly. As expected, the obtained NiS_x/NF sample exhibited high gravimetric capacitance of 1649.8 F·g^-1 and areal capacitance of 2.63 F·cm^-2. Furthermore, a gravimetric capacitance of 1120.1 F·g^-1 can be maintained at a high current density of 20 mA·cm^-2, suggesting a good rate capability. The influence of the different molar ratios of electrodeposition electrolyte (NiNO₃ and thiourea) on the morphology and electrochemical properties of NiS_x/NF sample was investigated to provide an optimum route for one-step electrodeposition of Ni₃S₂/NiS composite film. The outstanding performance indicated the Ni₃S₂/NiS composite film on Ni foam has great potential as an electrode material for supercapacitors.

Keywords: electrodeposition; nanoflakes; nickel sulfide; supercapacitors.