Novel hierarchical yolk-shell α-Ni(OH)₂/Mn₂O₃ microspheres as high specific capacitance electrode materials for supercapacitors

Abstract

For high performance supercapacitors, novel hierarchical yolk-shell a-Ni(OH)₂/Mn₂O₃ microspheres were controllably synthesized using a facile two-step method based on the solvothermal treatment. The unique a-Ni(OH)₂ based yolk-shell microstructures decorated with numerous interconnected nanosheets and the hetero-composition features can synergistically enhance reactive site exposure and electron conduction within the microspheres, facilitate charge transfer between electrolyte and electrode materials, and release structural stress during OH⁻ chemisorption/desorption. Moreover, the Mn₂O₃ sediments distributed over the a-Ni(OH)₂ microspheres can serve as an effective protective layer for electrochemical reactions. Consequently, when tested in 1 mol·L⁻¹ KOH aqueous electrolyte for supercapacitors, the yolk-shell a-Ni(OH)₂/Mn₂O₃ microspheres exhibited a considerably high specific capacitance of 2228.6 F·g⁻¹ at 1 A·g⁻¹ and an impressive capacitance retention of 77.7% after 3000 cycles at 10 A·g⁻¹. The proposed a-Ni(OH)₂/Mn₂O₃ microspheres with hetero-composition and unique hierarchical yolk-shell microstructures are highly promising to be used as electrode materials in supercapacitors and other energy storage devices.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

α-Ni(OH)₂/Mn₂O₃ / yolk-shell microspheres / electrode material / high specific capacitance / supercapacitors

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 21908037, 91834301) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China (Grant No. JZ2019HGBZ0147).

Electronic Supplementary Material

Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11705-021-2036-z and is accessible for authorized users.

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