Effects of surfactants on the morphologies, structures, and electrochemical activities of WO3/Ag2O nanocomposites for supercapacitor electrodes

Abstract

For energy storage, supercapacitors have been extensively developed. Among them, pseudocapacitors that use faradaic reactions of conductive polymers and transition metal oxides exhibit high electrochemical performance. In this study, WO3-based electrodes for high-performance pseudocapacitors were designed with Ag2O and various surfactants, with the aim to extend of the potential range and shape control of WO3 crystals. The WO3/Ag2O nanocomposites were prepared on a carbon cloth via chemical bath deposition with different types of surfactants: cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and Pluronic F-127. Both Ag and the surfactants affected the morphology of the WO3 crystals; their crystal sizes were decreased, and the crystallinity was improved. The specific capacitance of the WO3/Ag2O nanocomposite was 621 F/g at 5 mV/s, whereas that of WO3 was 397 F/g. Furthermore, the specific capacitance of the nanocomposites increased with the use of surfactants: 960 F/g for WO3/Ag2O@Pluronic F-127, 641 F/g for WO3/Ag2O@CTAB, and 846 F/g for WO3/Ag2O@SDS at 5 mV/s. WO3/Ag2O@Pluronic F-127 had superior capacitance and exhibited a charge/discharge capacitance retention rate of 135 % after 2000 cycles at 5 A/g. The symmetric electrode configuration of WO3/Ag2O@Pluronic F-127 exhibited a maximum energy density of 85 W h kg−1 and a power density of 670 W kg−1. These results highlight the significant potential of the WO3/Ag2O@Pluronic F-127 nanocomposite electrode for future energy storage devices.