Chestnut shell-like N-doped carbon coated NiCoP hollow microspheres for hybrid supercapacitors with excellent electrochemical performance

Abstract

In this work, transition metal phosphides (TMPs) were reinforced by a solvothermal synthesis method and in situ polymerization in dopamine with one-step phosphating and carbonizing process to form chestnut shell-like N-doped carbon coated NiCoP (NiCoP@N-C) hollow microspheres. Excellent morphologic structure is still reflected in NiCoP@N-C, which is suitable for rapid electron and electrolyte transfer. Benefiting from the excellent structure, the coating of N-doped carbon, and the synergistic effect of Ni and Co, NiCoP@N-C reveals excellent electrochemical properties (high specific capacitance of 1660 F·g⁻¹ (830 C·g⁻¹) at 1 A·g⁻¹). In addition, a NiCoP@N-C//carbonization HKUST-1 (HC) achieves high specific energy of 51.8 Wh·kg⁻¹, ultrahigh specific power of 21.63 kW·kg⁻¹, and excellent cycling stability up to 10000 cycles (a capacitance retention of 96.7%). The results show that the NiCoP@N-C electrode material has a wide application in supercapacitors and other energy storage devices.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

chestnut shell-like sphere / hybrid supercapacitor / NiCoP@N-C / N-doped carbon

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Province (2020GXNSFAA159015), Guangxi Key Laboratory of Optical and Electronic Materials and Devices (20KF-20), Open Funds of Key Laboratory of New Processing Technology for Nonferrous Metal and Materials of Ministry of Education (19AA-18), Postgraduate Joint Cultivation Base of the Education Department of Guangxi, Innovation Project of Guangxi Graduate Education (YCSW2021207), asnd Opening Project of Guangxi Key Laboratory of Calcium Carbonate Resources Comprehensive Utilization (Hezhou University) (HZXYKFKT201903, 2020KY18015).

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