High-Performance Asymmetric Supercapacitors Based on the Ni1.5Co1.5S4@CNTs Nanocomposites

Abstract

In this paper, the Ni[Formula: see text]Co[Formula: see text]S4@CNTs nanocomposites containing different carbon nanotubes (CNT) content were prepared by a one-step hydrothermal method. More hydroxyl and carboxyl groups were introduced on the surface of CNTs by acidizing treatment to increase the dispersion of CNTs. The acid-treated CNTs can more fully compound with Ni[Formula: see text]Co[Formula: see text]S4 nanoparticles to form heterostructure. When the CNTs content is 10[Formula: see text]wt.%, the Ni[Formula: see text]Co[Formula: see text]S4@CNTs-10 nanocomposite exhibits the highest specific capacity of 210[Formula: see text]mAh[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text] in KOH aqueous electrolytes at current density of 1[Formula: see text]A[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text]. The superior performances of the Ni[Formula: see text]Co[Formula: see text]S4@CNTs-10 nanocomposite are attributed to the effective synergic effects of the high specific capacity of Ni[Formula: see text]Co[Formula: see text]S4 and the excellent conductivity of CNTs. An asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) was assembled based on Ni[Formula: see text]Co[Formula: see text]S4@CNTs-10 positive electrode and activated carbon (AC) negative electrode, which delivers a high energy density of 61.2[Formula: see text]Wh[Formula: see text]kg[Formula: see text] at a power density of 800[Formula: see text]W[Formula: see text]kg[Formula: see text], and maintains 34.8[Formula: see text]Wh[Formula: see text]kg[Formula: see text] at a power density of 16079[Formula: see text]W[Formula: see text]kg[Formula: see text]. Also, the ASC device shows an excellent cycling stability with 91.49% capacity retention and above 94% Columbic efficiency after 10 000 cycles at 10[Formula: see text]A[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text]. This aqueous asymmetric Ni[Formula: see text]Co[Formula: see text]S4@CNTs//AC supercapacitor is promising for practical applications due to its advantages such as high energy density, power delivery and cycling stability.