Supercapacitive behavior and energy storage properties of molybdenum carbide ceramics synthesized via ball milling technique

Abstract

Energy production and energy storage materials are highly in demand due to their versatility, stability, sustainability, and better conductivity. Low-cost and highly efficient electrode materials (cathode/anode) for electrochemical supercapacitors (SCs) have been highly explored in the last two decades. Herein, we have synthesized Mo2C via a facile, cost-efficient, and green approach (ball milling). This work provides a new route to synthesize Mo2C, as compared with traditional techniques, to reduce the emission of poisonous gases at high temperatures. Furthermore, a comparison of the electrochemical performance of the bulk and nanostructured Mo2C was also investigated. The obtained results proved that smaller particle sizes and higher surface area are the efficient edges for the competitive performance of nanostructured Mo2C. Electron impedance spectroscopy (EIS), galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD), and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were used to assess the electrochemical performance of bulk and nanostructured Mo2C. Nanostructured Mo2C has delivered 206 F/g at a current density of 0.1 A/g in 3M-KOH electrolyte. Nanostructured Mo2C has shown ultra-long cyclic stability after 20000th GCD cycles with 92 % retention with 100 % Coulombic efficiency. These results predicted that nanostructured Mo2C is a good electrode material for supercapacitors.