High power flexible supercapacitor electrodes based on a surface modified C60 – β Ni(OH)2 nanocomposite

• Published in: Materials today communications 2021-03, Vol.26, p.101825, Article 101825
• Main Authors: Sasi, Soorya, Sugunan, Sunish K., Radhakrishnan Nair, P., Subramanian, K.R.V., George, Raji, Nageswara Rao, T., Mathew, Suresh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Energy storage; Flexible supercapacitor; Fullerene; Nickel hydroxide; Surface modification
• ISSN: 2352-4928; 2352-4928
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2020.101825

This article reports the preparation and characterization of high-power flexible supercapacitor electrodes based on fullerene-nickel hydroxide nanocomposite by using simple doctor blading technique. [Display omitted] Poor performance of the binder materials that bind the electroactive materials and a current collector in pseudocapacitors often set back the mechanical properties and energy storage capacity of these devices. Development of binder-free supercapacitor electrode is, thus, of paramount importance. In this communication, we report a proof-of-principle concept of developing a new class of binder-free, flexible pseudocapacitor electrodes based on a composite of 2,4,6-tris(dodecyloxy)phenyl-N-methylfulleropyrrolidine derivative and β-Ni(OH)2 nanorods. These electrodes deliver a specific capacitance of 675 Fg−1, 91.18 % of which is retained over 1000 charge-discharge cycles. We demonstrate that these electrodes can achieve specific energy and specific power of 661.5 Wh/kg and 8.8 KW/kg respectively. Based on our studies, we propose that further improvement in the capacitance can be achieved through optimization of the electrode components.