Optimizing symmetric supercapacitor performance through rational design of Zr/Cu/Fe Oxide-Modified Poly(vinyl alcohol) hybrid nanofibers

• Published in: Materials science & engineering. B, Solid-state materials for advanced technology Solid-state materials for advanced technology, 2024-11, Vol.309, p.117645, Article 117645
• Main Authors: Nallusamy, Senthilkumar, Selvaraj, Yogapriya, Ravi, Logesh, Karthikeyan, K., Pandiaraj, Saravanan, Alodhayb, Abdullah N., Alzahrani, Khalid E., Eswaramoorthy, Nandhakumar, Annamalai, Selvalakshmi, Asaithambi, Sasikumar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Electrospinning; Poly (vinyl alcohol); Polymeric composites; Supercapacitor; Synergic Effect
• ISSN: 0921-5107
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2024.117645

•ZCF-PVA NFs tailored for improved electrochemical performance.•At 1 A g−1 current density, ZCF-PVA NFs boast a specific capacitance of 824F/g.•The ZCF-PVA NFs exhibit maximum energy and power at 36 Wh kg−1 and 1193 W kg−1.•ZCF-PVA NFs serve as excellent electrode material for supercapacitor applications. Present work, ZrO2/CuO/PVA (ZC-PVA), ZrO2/Fe2O3/PVA (ZF-PVA) and ZrO2/CuO/Fe2O3/PVA (ZCF-PVA) nanofibers were synthesized by cost effective electrospinning method. The ZCF-PVA nanofiber prepared in this study were subjected to analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques, individually. XRD was employed to ascertain both the structure and crystallite size of the synthesized materials. SEM and FT-IR analysis were used to identify the morphology and functional groups present in the prepared ZC-PVA, ZF-PVA and ZCF-PVA nanofibers. XPS confirmed the surface elemental composition and oxidation states of Zr4+, Cu2+, and Fe3+ in ZCF-PVA nanofiber comprising ZrO2, CuO, and α-Fe2O3. In three electrode configuration ZCF-PVA nanofiber shows significantly higher specific capacitance of 824F/g at 1 A/g current density under 1 M KOH. The generation of synergic effect between multi valence oxidation states of mixed metal oxides and polymer (ZCF-PVA) enhances the capacitive behavior. The ZCF-PVA symmetric device exhibits 184F/g at 0.5 A/g current density with 91 % capacitance retention and 94 % of coulombic efficiency even after 5000 cycles at 3 A/g of current density.