Cu-Cu₂O/ZrO₂ Mixed Oxide by Self-Sustained Combustion of Amorphous Ribbons as Electrode Material for Supercapacitor

Recently, numerous synthesis methods have been developed for the preparation of nanostructured materials for supercapacitor applications, and top-down strategies have gained increasing attention due to their relative simplicity and reduced processing complexity. In particular, the combustion method is recognized as one of the simplest and most rapid approaches for producing a wide range of materials. Within this study, the combustion of Cu₄₈Zr₄₇Al₅ amorphous ribbons was employed, and the supercapacitor electrodes based on Cu-Cu₂O/ZrO₂ mixed oxide were developed. The morpho-structural properties of the materials were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the electrochemical performance, particularly for supercapacitor applications, was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) measurements. The CV curves indicate that the Cu–Cu₂O/ZrO₂ mixed oxide structure acts as a positive electrode and exhibits a non-rectangular shape, confirming pseudocapacitive behavior of the as-synthesized material. A maximum areal specific capacitance of 472.7 mF cm⁻² was obtained at a scan rate of 5 mV s⁻¹. From GCD analysis, an areal specific capacitance of 336.5 mF cm⁻² was achieved at a current density of 1 mA cm⁻². Cycling stability was evaluated over 1000 charge–discharge cycles, showing an increase in capacitance to 135.14% after the 1000th cycle, attributed to the progressive activation of the electrode material. This study highlights the potential of Cu–Cu₂O/ZrO₂ mixed oxides prepared via self-sustained combustion as efficient and durable electrode materials for supercapacitors. The findings provide a starting point for the future optimization of amorphous alloys for the synthesis of mixed-oxide materials through a scalable fabrication process, paving the way for advanced energy storage applications.