Electrodeposition of three dimensional-porous Ni/Ni(OH)2 hierarchical nano composite via etching the Ni/Zn/Ni(OH)2 precursor as a high performance pseudocapacitor

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Switzerland : 1996), 2016-09, Vol.299, p.282-291
• Main Authors: Ashassi-Sorkhabi, H., La’le Badakhshan, P., Asghari, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3D-porous; Electrodeposition; Gas bubble dynamic template; Hierarchical; Nickel hydroxide; Pseudocapacitors
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2016.04.069

[Display omitted] •Ni/Ni(OH)2 composite with 3D-porous hierarchal nanostructure was synthesized.•Synthesis was performed via an electrodeposition process followed by an etching step.•The prepared nanocomposite exhibits an improved pseudocapacitive performance.•The measured areal capacitance was 2.18Fcm−2 at the current density of 1.12mAcm−2.•Capacitance retention was 100.012% after performing 1000 charge–discharge cycles. We have electrochemically synthesized 3D-porous micro-nano Ni/Ni(OH)2 hierarchical nanocomposites with improved supercapacitive performance. Firstly, the 3D-porous micro-nano Ni/Zn hierarchical nanoplatelets were constructed in a two-step gas bubble dynamic template deposition method as a scaffold with the open porous structure and extra high surface area for the subsequent electrodeposition of Ni(OH)2 nanostructures. Then the zinc were removed from the prepared 3D Ni/Zn/Ni(OH)2 nanocomposite via performing an etching process. The resulted 3D-porous micro-nano Ni/Ni(OH)2 hierarchical nanocomposites showed a high areal capacitance of 2.18Fcm−2 (2400Fg−1) at the current density of 1.12mAcm−2 (1.25Ag−1) which is so higher than the measured amount for the prepared 3D-Ni/Ni(OH)2 nanocomposites by directly deposition of nickel hydroxide on the synthesized 3D nickel foam. In addition, the prepared nanocomposite films exhibit the great cycling stability. The capacitance retention was about 100.012% after performing 1000 charge–discharge cycles, and decreases only about 1.3% after the 2000th cycle.