Hierarchically Developed Ni(OH)2@MgCo2O4 Nanosheet Composites for Boosting Supercapacitor Performance

Nanomaterials (Basel). 2023 Apr 19;13(8):1414. doi: 10.3390/nano13081414.

Abstract

MgCo2O4 nanomaterial is thought to be a promising candidate for renewable energy storage and conversions. Nevertheless, the poor stability performances and small specific areas of transition-metal oxides remain a challenge for supercapacitor (SC) device applications. In this study, sheet-like Ni(OH)2@MgCo2O4 composites were hierarchically developed on nickel foam (NF) using the facile hydrothermal process with calcination technology, under carbonization reactions. The combination of the carbon-amorphous layer and porous Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles was anticipated to enhance the stability performances and energy kinetics. The Ni(OH)2@MgCo2O4 nanosheet composite achieved a superior specific capacitance of 1287 F g-1 at a current value of 1 A g-1, which is higher than that of pure Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles and MgCo2O4 nanoflake samples. At a current density of 5 A g-1, the Ni(OH)2@MgCo2O4 nanosheet composite delivered an outstanding cycling stability of 85.6%, which it retained over 3500 long cycles with an excellent rate of capacity of 74.5% at 20 A g-1. These outcomes indicate that such a Ni(OH)2@MgCo2O4 nanosheet composite is a good contender as a novel battery-type electrode material for high-performance SCs.

Keywords: Ni(OH)2@MgCo2O4 composites; battery-type; electrode; high performance; hybrid structure; supercapacitors.