A High‐Energy Lithium‐Ion Capacitor by Integration of a 3D Interconnected Titanium Carbide Nanoparticle Chain Anode with a Pyridine‐Derived Porous Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Cathode

Abstract

Lithium‐ion capacitors (LICs) are hybrid energy storage devices that have the potential to bridge the gap between conventional high‐energy lithium‐ion batteries and high‐power capacitors by combining their complementary features. The challenge for LICs has been to improve the energy storage at high charge−discharge rates by circumventing the discrepancy in kinetics between the intercalation anode and capacitive cathode. In this article, the rational design of new nanostructured LIC electrodes that both exhibit a dominating capacitive mechanism (both double layer and pseudocapacitive) with a diminished intercalation process, is reported. Specifically, the electrodes are a 3D interconnected TiC nanoparticle chain anode, synthesized by carbothermal conversion of graphene/TiO2 hybrid aerogels, and a pyridine‐derived hierarchical porous nitrogen‐doped carbon (PHPNC) cathode. Electrochemical properties of both electrodes are thoroughly characterized which demonstrate their outstanding high‐rate capabilities. The fully assembled PHPNC//TiC LIC device delivers an energy density of 101.5 Wh kg−1 and a power density of 67.5 kW kg−1 (achieved at 23.4 Wh kg−1), and a reasonably good cycle stability (≈82% retention after 5000 cycles) within the voltage range of 0.0−4.5 V.