Ni(OH)2 nanoflakes supported on 3D hierarchically nanoporous gold/Ni foam as superior electrodes for supercapacitors

Authors

Xi Ke, Guangdong University of Technology
Zouxin Zhang, Guangdong University of Technology
Yifeng Cheng, Guangdong University of Technology
Yaohua Liang, Guangdong University of Technology
Zhiyuan Tan, Guangdong University of Technology
Jun Liu, Guangdong University of Technology
Liying Liu, Guangdong University of Technology
Zhicong Shi, Guangdong University of Technology
Zaiping Guo, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

123240

Publication Details

Ke, X., Zhang, Z., Cheng, Y., Liang, Y., Tan, Z., Liu, J., Liu, L., Shi, Z. & Guo, Z. (2018). Ni(OH)2 nanoflakes supported on 3D hierarchically nanoporous gold/Ni foam as superior electrodes for supercapacitors. Science China Materials, 61 (3), 353-362.

Abstract

The increasing demand for portable electronic devices and hybrid electric vehicles stimulates the development of supercapacitors as an advanced energy storage system. Here, we demonstrate a binder-free nickel hydroxide@nanoporous gold/Ni foam (Ni(OH) 2 @NPG/Ni foam) electrode for high-performance supercapacitors, which is prepared by a facile three-step fabrication route including electrodeposition of Au-Sn alloy on Ni foam, chemical dealloying of Sn and electrodepostion of Ni(OH) 2 on NPG/Ni foam. Such Ni(OH) 2 @NPG/Ni foam electrode is composed of a thin layer of conformable Ni(OH) 2 nanoflakes supported on three-dimensional (3D) hierarchically porous NPG/Ni foam substrate. The resulting Ni(OH) 2 @NPG/Ni foam electrode can offer highways for both electron transfer and ion transport and lead to an excellent electrochemical performance with an ultrahigh specific capacitance of 3380 F g-1 at a current density of 2 A g −1 . Even when the current density was increased to 50 A g −1 , it still retained a high capacitance of 1927 F g −1 . The promising performance of the Ni(OH) 2 @NPG/Ni foam electrode is mainly ascribed to the 3D hierarchical porosity and the highly conductive network on the NPG/Ni foam composite current collector, as well as the conformal electrodeposition of Ni(OH) 2 active material on the NPG/Ni foam, which induces the formation of interconnected porosity both on the top surface and on the inner surface of the electrode. This inspiring electrochemical performance would make the as-designed electrode material become one of the most promising candidates for future electrochemical energy storage systems.