Spongy structured α-Ni(OH)2: Facile and rapid synthesis for supercapattery applications

• Published in: Materials letters 2019-03, Vol.238, p.35-37
• Main Authors: William, J. Johnson, Babu, I. Manohara, Muralidharan, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Microwave; Polyurethane foam; Spongy; Supercapattery; α-Ni(OH)2
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2018.11.136

•Spongy structured α-Ni(OH)2 has been synthesized via microwave irradiation method.•A maximum specific capacity of 439 C g−1 (2 A g−1) has obtained for a α-Ni(OH)2.•Polyurethane foam was used as a separator to fabricate the supercapattery cell.•The fabricated cell delivers a specific energy of 49 W h kg−1 (PS ∼ 696 W kg−1). Spongy-like α-Ni(OH)2 was rapidly prepared through microwave irradiation method. The spongy structure was identified to be of interspersed nanorods (2.5 nm thickness). Moreover, its mesoporus nature has made the α-Ni(OH)2 as an efficient electrode by revealing a specific capacity of 439 C g−1 at a specific current of 2 A g−1. Further, the α-Ni(OH)2//AC (activated carbon) supercapattery cell has been fabricated using polyurethane foam as separator. A specific capacitance of 246 F g−1 (2 A g−1) was estimated with the specific energy of 49 W h kg−1 and specific power of 696 W kg−1. The studied supercapattery cell could retain 87 % of capacity even after 2000 continuous charge-discharge cycles.