Fabrication of nanostructured iron-cobalt layered double hydroxide: An innovative approach for the facile synthesis

Abstract

Studying semiconductive materials-based supercapacitors is significant for developing next-generation energy storage devices. However, the fabrication of a novel semiconductive material-based electrode with self-supporting design, flexible support, and nanoarchitecture is a challenge for the material researcher of 21st century. We present a facile method to fabricate three-dimensional (3D), porous, conductive electrodes based on semiconductive materials with high electrochemical performance. We fabricate the FeCo-LDH sample via hydrothermal route and decorate it on the flexible carbon cloth (CC) to get a flexible and self-supporting electrode. Textural, morphological, elemental, thermal, and functional group studies of the hydrothermally generated powder were performed using XRD, SEM, EDX, TGA, and FTIR methods. Well-known EIS, GCD, and CV tests were used to evaluate the electrochemical possessions of the FeCo-LDH/CC electrode. The performed electrochemical experiments indicated that our manufactured FeCo-LDH/CC electrode has an excellent specific capacity of 1041F/g at 0.5 A/g. Our self-supporting and flexible electrode has excellent cycle stability (it loses only 7.3 percent of its capacity after 5000 GCD cycles). It retains 79.2 percent of its capacitance when the current density increases from 0.5 A/g to 9 A/g. The superior electrochemical activity observed is attributed to the electrode's novel structure and logical design. According to the electrochemical experiment findings, our manufactured FeCo-LDH/CC electrode has great promise for practical applications in next-generation electrochemical capacitors.