High-performance Electrochemical Energy Storage Electrodes Based on Nickel Oxide-coated Nickel Foam Prepared by Sparking Method

• Published in: Electrochimica acta 2017-06, Vol.238, p.298-309
• Main Authors: Chuminjak, Yaowamarn, Daothong, Suphaporn, Kuntarug, Aekapong, Phokharatkul, Ditsayut, Horprathum, Mati, Wisitsoraat, Anurat, Tuantranont, Adisorn, Jakmunee, Jaroon, Singjai, Pisith
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agglomeration; Coated electrodes; Electrochemical energy storage; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Electrodes; Energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy; Energy storage; Foams; Nanoparticles; Ni foam; Nickel; NiO nanoparticles; Photoelectron spectroscopy; Raman spectroscopy; Scanning electron microscopy; Sparking method; Spectroscopic analysis; Storage; Transmission electron microscopy
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2017.03.190

[Display omitted] •NiO particles (3-10nm) were sparked on Ni foams with varying times (45-180min).•Larger NiO nanoparticles were aggregated to foam-like structure at a longer time.•The optimal time of 45min led to a high specific capacity of 920C/g at 1 A/g.•The specific capacity remained as high as 699 (76% of 920) C/g at 20 A/g.•The optimal electrode exhibited 96% capacity retention after 1000 cycles at 4 A/g. In this work, high-performance electrochemical energy storage electrodes were developed based on nickel oxide (NiO)-coated nickel (Ni) foams prepared by a sparking method. NiO nanoparticles deposited on Ni foams with varying sparking times from 45 to 180min were structurally characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. In addition, the electrochemical energy storage characteristics of the electrodes were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. It was found that NiO nanoparticles sparked on Ni foam with a longer time would be agglomerated and formed a foam-like network with large pore sizes and a lower surface area, leading to inferior charge storage behaviors. The NiO/Ni foam electrode prepared with the shortest sparking of 45min displayed high specific capacities of 920C g-1 (1840 F g-1) at 1 A g-1 and 699 (76% of 920) C g-1 at 20 A g-1 in a potential window of 0-0.5V vs. Ag/AgCl as well as a good cycling performance with 96% capacity retention at 4 A g-1 after 1000 cycles and a low equivalent series resistance of 0.4Ω. Therefore, NiO/Ni foam electrodes prepared by the sparking method are highly promising for high-capacity energy storage applications.