Nanoporous Carbon Research Articles

Highly efficient oxygen carrier NiFeP (oxy) hydroxides nanoparticle embedded in N-doped porous carbon derived from bio-waste for bifunctional electrocatalysts

Developing cost-effective, readily available materials for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in water splitting is a crucial step toward enhancing the profitability and sustainability of energy conversion systems. This research introduces a novel synthesis method for NiFeP/NPC OHs from banana peel bio-waste, a method that could revolutionize the field of materials science and electrochemistry. The use of metallic phosphides, known for their excellent electrical conductivity and catalytic activity, as bifunctional catalysts, combined with the efficient synthesis of nanoporous carbons (NPC) from banana peel bio-waste (BPW), could pave the way for a new era of sustainable and cost-effective energy conversion. By chemically activating different porogens, such as nickel, iron, and phosphorus (NiFeP), to form (oxy) hydroxides (OHs), functional carbonaceous structures with a high density of pores and large specific surface areas can be achieved. The resulting materials, designated as NiFeP/NPC OHs, are characterized by their remarkable porosity, high conductivity, large surface area, and chemical stability. These properties make NiFeP/NPC OHs particularly suitable for electrocatalysis, where they exhibit outstanding activity in both HER and OER. The optimized NiFeP/NPC OHs material shows a very low overpotential of 93 mV for HER and 243 mV for OER at 10 mA cm⁻2 and high durability over 100 h. Moreover, the bifunctional NiFeP/NPC OHs electrode demonstrates exceptional catalytic activity and stability in alkaline solutions. This study not only highlights the innovative synthesis of NPC from BPW and the cost-effective fabrication of NiFeP/NPC OHs but also sparks curiosity about the potential of this novel synthesis method.

Controllable synthesis of monodisperse hierarchical porous carbon nanorods and their derived superstructures for supercapacitors

Monodisperse hierarchical porous carbon nanorods (HPCNs-1) are synthesized through hydrothermal carbonization and KHCO3 activation using D-xylose, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and poly (4-styrene sulfonic acid-maleic acid) sodium salt (PSSMA). PSSMA regulates morphology and the accumulation of SDS micelles through inhibition and electrostatic repulsion. SDS serves as a microreactor for hydrothermal processes and a pore-forming agent. KHCO3 generates micropore and ensures a high specific surface area. Additionally, raspberry-like and spindle-like hierarchical porous nanocarbons are obtained with sodium laurate and sodium oleate. Hierarchical porous nanocarbons exhibit controllable morphology, high pore utilization, demonstrating useful electrochemical performance. In a 6 mol·L-1 KOH electrolyte, HPCNs-1 achieves a specific capacitance of 302F·g−1 at a current density of 0.2 A·g−1 with a retention rate of 98 % after 10,000 charge–discharge cycles at 10 A·g−1. In pure 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate electrolyte, an assembled symmetric supercapacitor with HPCNs-1 demonstrates an energy density of 39.06 W·h·kg−1 at 0.1 A·g−1.

Catalytic Deoxygenation of Palm Oil Over Iron Phosphide Supported on Nanoporous Carbon Derived from Vinasse Waste for Green Diesel Production.

The vinasse waste was effectively converted to nanoporous carbon (NPC) via hydrothermal carbonization with potassium hydroxide (KOH) activation. The nanoporous carbon (NPC) exhibited a maximum surface area of 1018 m2/g and it was utilized as a catalyst for the conversion of palm oil into green diesel fuel. The supported NPC catalyst was fabricated via a wet impregnation technique, where finely distributed iron phosphide (FeP) particles were cemented. The FeP/NPC catalyst was evaluated for its physicochemical characteristics using various techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen sorption analyzer, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) mapping. An investigation was conducted to examine the effects of different temperatures (ranging from 280 to 360 °C) on the conversion of palm oil through deoxygenation reactions. The FeP/NPC catalyst exhibited remarkable particle dispersion and surface area. At a reaction temperature of 340 °C, the FeP/NPC catalyst had the best selectivity for green diesel, reaching 68.5%. The finding implies that FeP catalysts, when supported, hold significant promise for converting triglycerides into renewable diesel fuel. Moreover, they provide the advantage of being more cost-effective than valuable metals, while demonstrating excellent catalytic efficiency in the production of biofuels. Furthermore, it has been shown that the FeP/NPC catalyst can be recycled by subjecting it to heat treatment to remove impurities and obtain reduction.

Shape-controllable synthesis of lignin-derived boron-doped nanoporous carbons for dye adsorption and electrochemical H2O2 production

Lignin-derived nanocarbon materials (LNCMs) have attracted intense attention due to their excellent properties and promising applications in renewable energy technologies. However, lignins tend to melt and agglomerate during pyrolysis, make it difficult to control the morphology and pore structure of the resulting carbon. In this study, boron-doped porous nanocarbon (BFC) in various shapes (sphere, band, and sheet) were synthesized using ammonium borate as a crosslinking agent to prevent lignin melting, assisted by liquid nitrogen freeze-drying and potassium phosphate (KP) templating. The effects of BFC structure on methylene blue adsorption and electrochemical generation of H2O2 were investigated. The results show that KP-1/1-8BFC exhibits a high specific surface area (912.89 m2/g) and a hierarchical micro-mesoporous structure, achieving a remarkable adsorption capacity of 473.9 mg/g for methylene blue and rapid kinetics. The selectivity of KP-1/20-8BFC for electrochemical production of H2O2 reaches 85 %. This study offers theoretical guidance for the controllable synthesis of LNCMs, contributing to the advancement of sustainable energy solutions.

Two-Step Wetting of Nanoporous Carbons: Small-Angle Scattering Analysis of Capillary Rise.

Numerous applications of nanoporous materials require their pores to be filled with liquids. In spite of its huge technological importance, the conditions for the wetting of nanometer-sized pores and its phenomenology are still poorly understood. We report on capillary rise experiments with water in carbon xerogels, with synchrotron small-angle scattering used to follow the process in situ at the nanometer scale. The data reveal a two-step wetting process whereby water permeates first into molecular-sized micropores, which is followed by the imbibition of larger mesopores. A Cassie-Baxter analysis shows that the presence of water in the micropores is central, as it turns the mesopores from being hydrophobic to hydrophilic. Based on the so-calculated contact angles, the mesopore wetting kinetics are found to be quantitatively described by a classical Washburn model. Modeling of the experimental water profile ahead of the Washburn front reveals strong surface barriers opposing water transfer from the mesopores to the micropores.

Disorder Over Pore Size: Boosting Supercapacitor Efficiency

The urgent need for efficient energy storage systems has spotlighted supercapacitors and nanostructured porous carbon materials, which require structural optimization to enhance their performance and lifespan, necessitating advanced design and synthesis techniques. Recent research by Forse et al. published in Science reveals that structural disorder in nanoporous carbon materials significantly enhances their capacitance performance, suggesting that optimizing structural disorder is key to developing high‐energy‐density supercapacitors. This study innovatively shows that structural disorder in nanoporous carbon materials significantly enhances capacitance performance, surpassing traditional factors like pore size and surface area. The investigation of multiple nanoporous carbons from a range of different suppliers showcases the generalizability of the findings. Annealing treatment further confirms that the capacitance enhancement is due to structural disorder. This discovery guides the design and synthesis of new efficient electrode materials, providing a new direction for the future development of supercapacitors.

Scalable Ambient Synthesis of Metal–Organic Frameworks and Their Derivative Nanoporous Carbon for Superior Potassium Ion Storage

Scalable Ambient Synthesis of Metal–Organic Frameworks and Their Derivative Nanoporous Carbon for Superior Potassium Ion Storage

Bioactive Ion-Confined Ultracapacitive Memristors with Neuromorphic Functions.

The field of bioinspired iontronics, bridging electronic devices and ionic systems, has multiple biological applications. Carbon-based ultracapacitive devices hold promise for controlling bioactive ions via electric double layers due to their high-surface-area and biocompatible porous carbon electrodes. However, the interplay between complex bioactive ions and porous carbons remains unclear due to the variety of structures of bioactive ions present in biological systems. Herein, we investigate the adsorption behavior of a series of bioactive ammonium-based cations with varying alkyl chain lengths in nanoporous carbons. We find that strong physisorption results from the synergistic hydrophobic interaction and electrostatic attraction between porous carbons (with a negative zeta potential) and bioactive cations. Bioactive cations with varying alkyl chain lengths can be irreversibly physically adsorbed and confined within nanoporous carbons resulting in anion enrichment and depletion during electric polarization. This situation, in turn, results in a characteristic memristive behavior in all-carbon capacitive ionic memristor devices. Our findings highlight the relationship between the resistance state of the memristor and ion adsorption mechanisms in all-carbon capacitive devices, which hold potential for future transmitter delivery, biointerfacing, and neuromorphic devices.

Bioactive Ion‐Confined Ultracapacitive Memristors with Neuromorphic Functions

The field of bioinspired iontronics, bridging electronic devices and ionic systems, has multiple biological applications. Carbon‐based ultracapacitive devices hold promise for controlling bioactive ions via electric double layers due to their high‐surface‐area and biocompatible porous carbon electrodes. However, the interplay between complex bioactive ions and porous carbons remains unclear due to the variety of structures of bioactive ions present in biological systems. Herein, we investigate the adsorption behavior of a series of bioactive ammonium‐based cations with varying alkyl chain lengths in nanoporous carbons. We find that strong physisorption results from the synergistic hydrophobic interaction and electrostatic attraction between porous carbons (with a negative zeta potential) and bioactive cations. Bioactive cations with varying alkyl chain lengths can be irreversibly physically adsorbed and confined within nanoporous carbons resulting in anion enrichment and depletion during electric polarization. This situation, in turn, results in a characteristic memristive behavior in all‐carbon capacitive ionic memristor devices. Our findings highlight the relationship between the resistance state of the memristor and ion adsorption mechanisms in all‐carbon capacitive devices, which hold potential for future transmitter delivery, biointerfacing, and neuromorphic devices.

Synthesis of a three-dimensional hollow leaf-shaped nickel-doped nanoporous carbon derived from zeolite imidazolate framework-L for sensitive detection of epinephrine

Epinephrine is essential for maintaining the proper functioning of the heart, blood vessels, and central nervous system. Designing a cost-effective, efficient, and sensitive sensor for epinephrine with strong electrochemical performance is of great importance. Transition metal–carbon materials have garnered significant attention due to their low cost, wide availability, non-toxicity, and stable properties. In this work, we developed a novel nickel-doped nanoporous carbon (Ni-NC) sensor by modifying a zeolite imidazolate framework (ZIF-L) through chemical etching, structural transformation, and pyrolysis strategies, aimed at the sensitive detection of epinephrine. Compared to a two-dimensional (2D) structure, the three-dimensional (3D) structure offers a larger specific surface area and pore size, as well as more exposed active sites, thereby enhancing the catalytic performance of the Ni-NC sensor. The strong synergistic effect between the transition metal Ni and the carbon substrate enables Ni-NC to achieve rapid and efficient epinephrine detection. The sensor exhibits a linear range of 0.7–402.0 μM, a detection limit of 0.32 μM, and demonstrates excellent anti-interference, repeatability, reproducibility, and stability. Moreover, the sensor shows strong applicability in real sample analysis. This research presents a highly sensitive and efficient analytical strategy for the rapid detection of epinephrine.

Nanoporous amorphous carbon nanopillars with lightweight, ultrahigh strength, large fracture strain, and high damping capability

Simultaneous achievement of lightweight, ultrahigh strength, large fracture strain, and high damping capability is challenging because some of these mechanical properties are mutually exclusive. Here, we utilize self-assembled polymeric carbon precursor materials in combination with scalable nano-imprinting lithography to produce nanoporous carbon nanopillars. Remarkably, nanoporosity induced via sacrificial template significantly reduces the mass density of amorphous carbon to 0.66 ~ 0.82 g cm−3 while the yield and fracture strengths of nanoporous carbon nanopillars are higher than those of most engineering materials with the similar mass density. Moreover, these nanopillars display both elastic and plastic behavior with large fracture strain. A reversible part of the sp2-to-sp3 transition produces large elastic strain and a high loss factor (up to 0.033) comparable to Ni-Ti shape memory alloys. The irreversible part of the sp2-to-sp3 transition enables plastic deformation, leading to a large fracture strain of up to 35%. These findings are substantiated using simulation studies. None of the existing structural materials exhibit a comparable combination of mass density, strength, deformability, and damping capability. Hence, the results of this study illustrate the potential of both dense and nanoporous amorphous carbon materials as superior structural nanomaterials.

Nanoporous carbon derived ZIF-67@MWCNTs-Fe3O4 reinforced hollow fiber to performe hollow fiber solid-phase micro extraction (HF-SPME) coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography to determine deltamethrin and cypermethrin

This study presents a novel micro extraction approach by developing a highly porous and stable Co@N-C/MWCNTs sorbent capable to addresses limitations of traditional sorbents. Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-67 (ZIF-67) interconnected with magnetic Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) selected as the template for the synthesis of sorbent possess distinctive N-doped and metal (Co) active sites coupled with carbon-rich nanotubes, resulting in a sorbent with a strong affinity to target analytes and excellent chemical stability. For the first time, this material integrated into the pores of a hollow fiber (HF) for a simplified and efficient Hollow Fiber Solid Phase Micro extraction (HF-SPME) method. This innovative integration increases the extraction surface area and minimize matrix interference. Under optimal conditions, the method achieved a wide linear range (0.1–200 μg L−1) for the target analytes, deltamethrin (DLT) and cypermethrin (CPM), the coefficient of determination of 0.9945 for DLT and 0.9982 for CPM. Additionally, it demonstrated excellent analytical performance with: Low limits of detection (LODs): 0.03 µg L−1 for DLT and 0.04 µg L−1 for CPM. Good precision: Inter and intra-day relative standard deviations (RSD) within 2.5–3.4 %. High enrichment factors (EFs): 68–58. The novel Co@N-C/MWCNTs coating, integrated with a hollow fiber, offers a promising advancement for HF-SPME due to its unique properties.

A Breathable and Strain‐Insensitive Multi‐Layered E‐Skin Patch for Digital Healthcare Wearables

AbstractIn this study, a breathable and strain‐insensitive multi‐layered electronic skin (e‐skin) capable of real‐time detection and distinction of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, temperature, and skin hydration is developed. Leveraging a scalable benchtop method, sensing elements are transferred onto porous and hydrophobic substrates, followed by multi‐layer stacking to enable multimodal sensing. The sensing elements, a combination of carbon nanotube and nanoporous carbon (CNT@NPC) ink, are applied using strain‐insensitive patterned masks, then spray‐coated with styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene (SEBS) to create a hierarchical porous network through phase separation. The CNT@NPC networks exhibit an improvement in strain insensitivity with active sensing capabilities due to their adaptable molecular tuning capacity and exceptional electrical conductivity. The porous SEBS substrate offers strong bonding with CNT@NPC attributed to the π–π interactions and high kinetic energy dispersion from spray coating allowing effective transfer. This unique design facilitates breathability, and miniaturization that minimizes the interference between different sensing modalities, ensuring accurate and reliable data acquisition. The breathability (3.49 mg cm−2 h−1) and the non‐smearing nature of the multi‐layered e‐skin enables simultaneous monitoring of temperature (0.198% °C−1), skin hydration (relative humidity = 0.77% %−1), and ECG (26 ± 1 dB) with continuous data transmission to a remote smartphone interface.

Fluorine and Bromine Dual-Doped Nanoporous Carbons: Preparation and Surface Chemistry Studies.

A novel method for the concurrent introduction of fluorine and bromine into the surface of nanoporous activated carbon (NAC) is evaluated. According to the method, the preheated NAC was treated with 1,2-dibromotetrafluoroethane at elevated temperatures (400-800 °C). Potentiometric and elemental analysis, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and 19F solid-state NMR were used to study the NAC microstructure and changes in surface chemistry. The specific modification temperature was found to have a decisive influence on the resulting halogen content of the NAC surface. About 1.5 mmol g-1 of bromine and only 0.5 mmol g-1 of fluorine are chemisorbed on the NAC surface when dual-doped at 400 °C. The fluorination efficiency increases dramatically to 1.84-2.22 mmol g-1 when the process temperature is increased to 500-700 °C. Under the same conditions, the bromination efficiency unexpectedly decreases to 0.66-1.32 mmol g-1. Since halogen-containing groups undergo significant thermal decomposition around 800 °C, the overall halogenation efficiency decreases, accordingly. Both the volume and surface area of the micropores decrease moderately when halogen-containing groups are introduced into the carbon surface layer. Fluorine and bromine are unevenly distributed in the porous structure of the dual-doped NACs, and the outer surface is more halogen-rich than the inner surface of the micropores. XPS and 19F solid-state NMR revealed the selective formation of CF2 groups in the NAC surface layer independent of the temperature. In contrast, the percentage of semi-ionic fluorine in the form of CF groups directly bonded to the π-electron system of the carbon matrix increases significantly with temperature.

One-Stage Synthesis of Microporous Carbon Adsorbents from Walnut Shells—Evolution of Porosity and Structure

One-stage synthesis technology for preparing carbon adsorbents with tailored porosity from agricultural waste is worthwhile due to their extensive application value. Thermal gravimetric analysis, low-temperature N2 adsorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and Raman spectroscopy were used to record the structure transformations of carbon materials, namely pore development, proceeding in the course of the step-wise pyrolysis of renewable and low-cost raw materials such as walnut shells (WNSs), which was carried out within a temperature range of 240–950 °C in a CO2 flow. The minimum threshold carbonization temperature for preparing nanoporous carbon materials from WNSs, determined by the examination of the N2 adsorption data, was 500 °C. The maximum specific micropore volume and BET surface achieved in the process without holding a material at a specified temperature were only 0.19 cm3/g and 440 m2/g, respectively. The pyrolysis at 400–600 °C produced amorphous sp2 carbon. At a temperature as high as 750 °C, an increase in the X-ray reflection intensity indicated the ordering of graphite-like crystallites. At high burn-off degrees, the size of coherently scattering domains becomes smaller, and an increased background in X-ray patterns indicates the destruction of cellulose nanofibrils, the disordering of graphene stacks, and an increase in the amount of disordered carbon. At this stage, pores develop in the crystallites. They are tentatively assigned to crystallites with sizes of 15–20 nm and to micropores. According to the Raman spectra combined with the XRD and SAXS data, the structure of all the pyrolysis products is influenced by the complex structure of the walnut shell precursor, which comprises cellulose nanofibrils embedded in lignin. This structure was preserved in the initial stage of pyrolysis, and the graphitization of cellulose fibrils and lignin proceeds at different rates. Most of the pores accessible for gas molecules in the resulting carbon materials are associated with former cellulose fibrils.

Nanoporous carbon materials: modern production methods and applications

The review presents data on the nomenclature and production methods of the most intensively investigated classes of nanoporous carbon materials, which are increasingly used in science, medicine, and various fields of economy. The traditional activated carbons, which are produced by conventional biomass and fossil hydrocarbon processing methods, are compared with nanoporous carbon materials obtained using modern synthetic methods. Recommendations are given on the use of template synthesis to obtain carbon materials with a controlled nanoporosity. Self-template synthesis, in which environmentally benign and readily available organic salts can be used as precursors, is considered as a promising avenue of research. This approach markedly reduces the cost of template synthesis of nanoporous carbons and allows for the preparation of carbon materials with specific particle morphology from organometallic precursors. Methods for the preparation of functional materials with ordered architectures of micro- and mesopores are considered, including modern functionalization and doping approaches. A part of the review is devoted to advanced applications of nanoporous carbon materials such as water treatment, energy and hydrogen storage, separation of gas mixtures, development of catalysts and sensors, and solution of other significant problems. The conclusion summarizes the experience of application of various methods for the preparation of nanoporous carbon materials, identifies the most problematic issues of the development and practical use of these materials, and presents the authors' view on further development of this area of materials science.<br> The bliography includes 353 references.

Controlled growth of redox-active polymer nanorods on MOF-derived activated nanoporous carbons: 3D reconstruction study and high-performance supercapacitor

Supercapacitors, which a energy storage systems, have been continuously studied because of their high power density and rapid charging-discharging capacity. Supercapacitors can be classified into pseudocapacitors and electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs). The effective utilization of these two supercapacitor mechanisms is important for achieving high performance. In this study, highly nanoporous metal–organic framework (MOF)-derived carbon underwent chemical activation with potassium hydroxide to produce a high surface area. Subsequently, activated carbon was combined with a polyaniline (PANI) nanoarchitecture to introduce redox-active sites. Activated MOF-derived carbon provides a high specific surface area for EDLCs, and well-controlled PANI nanorods support large amounts of redox-active sites to achieve high capacitance. The aniline (ANI) concentration, growth time, acid, temperature, and ammonium persulfate (APS):ANI molar ratio were controlled to grow PANI nanorods without aggregation. At a scan rate of 5 mV/s, the capacitance of the PANI-ZIF-8-derived carbon composite reached 635.3 F/g, which was superior than that of ZIF-8-derived carbon (143.4 F/g). It also exhibited excellent durability during cycling, demonstrating that it can serve as a high-performance hybrid electrode material composed of carbon and polymer for supercapacitors.

Multiple Heteroatom Doped Nanoporous Biocarbon for Supercapacitor and Zinc-ion Capacitor.

The use of nanoporous carbon for energy storage has seen a significant rise due to its exciting properties such as high surface area, hierarchical porosity and exceptional electrochemical properties. These unique advantages of exceptional surface and electrochemical properties of these porous carbon nanostructures can be coupled with the individual doping of heteroatoms such as S, N, O, and B for achieving high energy storage capacity and stability. Herein, we integrated the synthesis of carbon nitride (CN) and borocarbonitride (BCN) with solid state activation for introducing multiple heteroatoms (B, N, O, and S) onto the nanoporous carbon frameworks. The produced materials exhibit abundance of micro and mesoporosity, a high surface area of 2909 m2 g-1, and a pore volume of 0.87 cm3 g-1. Also, it offers an exceptional capacitance of 233.5 F g-1 at 0.5 A g-1 with 3 M KOH as electrolyte. Further, the optimised material was explored as cathode in zinc ion capacitor which delivers an energy and power density of 50.4 Wh kg-1 and 400 W kg-1 respectively in addition to high cyclability. Studies on the formation of the intermediate phases during charging/discharging of the cell through ex situ characterization result in some useful insights into the stability of ZIC.

A comparative study of shale oil transport behavior in graphene and kerogen nanopores with various roughness via molecular dynamics simulations

Understanding the transport behavior of molecules within nanopores is crucial in various fields, including nanofluidic, bioengineering and geophysics. To elucidate oil flow within shale organic nanopores, the simplified carbon nanopores (e.g., graphene and CNTs) and realistic kerogen nanopores have been extensively applied. The variation in pore structure models leads to divergent findings in oil flow behavior. This study employs molecular dynamics simulations to compare alkane flows within graphene and kerogen nano-slits with similar surface roughness. We observe that using graphene nanopores with ultra-smooth surfaces may introduce errors of several orders of magnitudes in flux calculations. Conversely, when accounting for similar roughness, the static characteristics and flow behaviors in graphene and kerogen slit pores are largely comparable. The relative error of flux and the flow velocity could be lower than 6% when using graphene to replace the realistic kerogen. Alkane molecules exhibit a parabolic velocity profile, with a no-slip condition adjacent to the rough surfaces. In addition, when applying the Hagen-Poiseullie equation for alkane flow in rough nanopores, Gibbs dividing surface is recommended for defining the pore radius, reducing the error of flux predicted to below 10%. Our work fulfills the gap in accessing the suitability of using graphene as a model for oil transport in shale organic nanopores, and provides valuable insights and guidance for future studies on nanofluidic in shale, including molecular simulations, nanofluidic experiment designs, and multi-scale modeling.

Ultrasonic assisted synthesis of nanoporous carbon/CeVO4 nanocomposite for supercapacitor and photocatalytic applications

Here, nanoporous carbon (NPC)/CeVO4 nanocomposite synthesized via ultrasonic assisted method for supercapacitor and tartrazine dye degradation application. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) studies confirmed the CeVO4 nanoparticles well embedded on the NPC surface in the NPC/CeVO4 nanocomposite. Spherical shaped CeVO4 nanoparticles are well incorporated on the surface of NPC therefore NPC/CeVO4 nanocomposite which possess a porous-like structure would improve the supercapacitor applications and dye degradation performance. As expected, the specific capacitance (Cs) values (555 F g−1) of NPC/CeVO4 nanocomposite showed enhanced performance as compared to CeVO4 nanoparticles (234 F g−1) at a current density of 1 A g−1 and the capacitance retention of the designed electrode as 95 % after 5000 cycles. The photodegradation of tartrazine dye using pure CeVO4 nanoparticles and NPC/CeVO4 nanocomposite was explored under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic degradation experiment demonstrated that the NPC/CeVO4 exhibits the maximum degradation efficiency (98.76 %) of the tartrazine with was reached within 120 min. Moreover, the rate constant of NPC/CeVO4 for tartrazine dyes decomposition was 0.0192 min−1 representing that it is two-fold higher than pure CeVO4 (0.0073 min−1). The superior electrochemical and photocatalytic properties of NPC/CeVO4 nanocomposite have been observed due to the well-designed structure and high surface area. Consequently, as-prepared NPC/CeVO4 material could be a promising material for electrochemical supercapacitor and dye degradation of the tartrazine organic pollutant.