Abstract
In this work, a facile method to prepare Bi2O3 decorated activated carbon (Bi2O3@AC) composites with high pseudocapacitive properties was presented. The inorganic–organic composites synthesized using commercial Bi2O3 and active carbon with different weight ratio. The composites were assessed using spectroscopic, microscopic, and diffractive techniques. Our assessments confirmed that active carbons were successfully doped with commercial Bi2O3 nanoparticles with different dopant rates. The electrochemical performance of as-prepared materials was researched by cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in 6 M KOH electrolyte. Higher specific capacitance was achieved for increased Bi2O3 nanoparticle in composites. The 20%-Bi2O3@AC had a maximum specific capacitance of 565 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g. In addition, the symmetrically assembled supercapacitor delivers a high energy density (23.0 Wh kg−1). Moreover, 67% of the initial capacitance is maintained after 1500 cycles at 200 mV/s, suggesting good cycling stability. Due to the synergistic effect of compositing a promising electrochemical performance was observed that was not obtained by bare AC or Bi2O3. As a result, the electrochemical properties of 20%-Bi2O3@AC composite is promising and it may be used as potential electrode for supercapacitor.
Highlights
Renewable energy sources have attracted great attention to meet the increasing energy needs [1,2,3,4,5]
We report a facile method to synthesize a nanocomposite from commercial bismuth oxide and plant based activated carbon materials for supercapacitor applications
Activated carbon is in robust structure where small carbon particles could be identified
Summary
Renewable energy sources have attracted great attention to meet the increasing energy needs [1,2,3,4,5]. Heteroatoms in the porous carbon networks improve surface wettability of the electrode and contribute additional pseudo-capacitance to the total capacitance in the active carbon derivatives [14,15,16] Owing to their large capacitance and high energy density as a result of reversible redox reactions different pseudocapacitive materials were designed extensively as electrode materials for supercapacitors such as metal oxides, metal sulphides and metal selenides [17]. Nanoparticles illustrate outstanding electrical, electronical, optical and magnetic properties with good electron affinity [18,19,20] Metal oxides nanoparticles such as Co3O4 and NiO are considered pseudocapacitive electrodes in aqueous electrolytes [9, 21,22,23]. The asprepared samples show a maximum specific capacitance of 565 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g
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