Engineering the grain boundary: a promising strategy to configure NiCoP₄O₁₂/NiCoP nanowire arrays for ultra-stable supercapacitor

Abstract

NiCoP₄O₁₂/NiCoP nanorod-like arrays with tunable grain boundary density and pores were synthesized by the processes composed of hydrothermal and pyrolysis, in which, the electron structure of Ni and Co atoms characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was contemporaneous inverse manipulated. The optimized NiCoP₄O₁₂/NiCoP arrays have a high specific capacitance of 507.8 μAh∙cm^–2 at 1 mA∙cm^–2, and good rate ability of 64.7% retention at 30-folds increased current density. Importantly, an ultra-stable ability, 88.5% of retention after 10000 cycles, was achieved in an asymmetric cell assembled of the NiCoP₄O₁₂/NiCoP arrays with activated carbon. In addition, the energy and power densities of an asymmetric cell were higher than those of other work, demonstrating as-prepared NiCoP₄O₁₂/NiCoP arrays are promising electrodes for supercapacitors.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

NiCo / array electrode / grain boundary / stability / supercapacitor

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