The synthesis and electrochemical performance of NiCo₂O₄ embedded carbon nanofibers for high-performance supercapacitors

Abstract

Construction of transition metal oxides-based carbonaceous nanostructures has been regarded as one of the most effective strategies to prepare the electrodes for high-performance supercapacitors. In this work, NiCo₂O₄ embedded carbon nanofibers (NiCo₂O₄-CNFs) are synthesized by the combination of one-step electrospinning and following thermal treatment. The obtained NiCo₂O₄-CNFs are evaluated as electrodes for supercapacitors. The testing results indicate that the NiCo₂O₄-CNFs present high specific capacitance of 836 F g⁻¹ (vs. 38.02 F g⁻¹ for carbon nanofibers (CNFs)) at 5 A g⁻¹, and outstanding cycling ability with 80.9% retention after 2000 cycle times. Such excellent performances benefit from the integration of electric double layer capacitors and pseudocapacitors. This kind of NiCo₂O₄-embedded carbon nanofibers can serve as a promising candidate for electrode materials for supercapacitors.

Keywords:

• Carbon nanofibers
• electrospinning
• nickel cobaltate
• supercapacitor