Search Results (18)

Environmental sustainability and responsible resource utilization are critical global challenges. In this work, we present a sustainable and circular-economy-based approach for synthesizing CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles by directly utilizing copper oxide minerals sourced from Chilean mining operations. Copper sulfate (CuSO₄) was extracted from these minerals through acid leaching and used as a precursor for nanoparticle synthesis via both chemical co-precipitation and microwave-assisted methods. The influence of different precipitating agents—NaOH, Na₂CO₃, and NaF—was systematically evaluated. XRD and FESEM analyses revealed that NaOH produced the most phase-pure and well-dispersed nanoparticles, while NaF resulted in secondary phase formation. The microwave-assisted method further improved particle uniformity and reduced agglomeration due to rapid and homogeneous heating. Electrochemical characterization was conducted to assess the suitability of the synthesized CuFe₂O₄ for supercapacitor applications. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) measurements confirmed pseudocapacitive behavior, with a specific capacitance of up to 1000 F/g at 2 A/g. These findings highlight the potential of CuFe₂O₄ as a low-cost, high-performance electrode material for energy storage. This study underscores the feasibility of converting primary mined minerals into functional nanomaterials while promoting sustainable mineral valorization. The approach can be extended to other critical metals and mineral residues, including tailings, supporting the broader goals of a circular economy and environmental remediation. Full article

Thin films of manganese–nickel–cobalt oxide with graphene (G@MNCO) were deposited on copper foam using electrochemical deposition. NiCo₂O₄ is the main phase in these films. As the proportion of graphene in the precursor solution increases, the oxygen vacancies in the samples also increase. The microstructure of these samples evolves into hierarchical vertical flake structures. Cyclic voltammetry measurements conducted within the potential range of 0–1.2 V reveal that the electrode with the highest graphene content achieves the highest specific capacitance, approximately 475 F/g. Furthermore, it exhibits excellent cycling durability, maintaining 95.0% of its initial capacitance after 10,000 cycles. The superior electrochemical performance of the graphene-enhanced, manganese-doped nickel–cobalt oxide electrode is attributed to the synergistic contributions of the hierarchical G@MNCO structure, the three-dimensional Cu foam current collector, and the binder-free fabrication process. These features promote quicker electrolyte ion diffusion into the electrode material and ensure robust adhesion of the active materials to the current collector. Full article

The demand for high-performance supercapacitors has driven extensive research into novel electrode materials with superior electrochemical properties. This study explores the supercapacitive behavior of quaternary CuNiCoZnO (CNCZO) films engineered into a three-dimensional (3D) flower-like morphology and developed on versatile substrates, including carbon cloth, stainless steel mesh, and nickel foam. The unique structural design, comprising interconnected nanosheets, enhances the electroactive surface area, facilitates ion diffusion, and improves charge storage capability. The synergistic effect of the multi-metallic composition contributes to remarkable electrochemical characteristics, including high specific capacitance, excellent rate capability, and outstanding cycling stability. Furthermore, the influence of different substrates on the electrochemical performance is systematically investigated to optimize material–substrate interactions. Electrochemical evaluations reveal outstanding specific capacitance values of 2318.5 F/g, 1993.7 F/g, and 2741.3 F/g at 2 mA/cm² for CNCZO electrodes on stainless steel mesh, carbon cloth, and nickel foam, respectively, with capacitance retention of 77.3%, 95.7%, and 86.1% over 5000 cycles. Furthermore, a symmetric device of CNCZO@Ni exhibits a peak specific capacitance of 67.7 F/g at a current density of 4 mA/cm², a power density of 717.4 W/kg, and an energy density of 25.6 Wh/kg, maintaining 84.5% stability over 5000 cycles. The straightforward synthesis of CNCZO on multiple substrates presents a promising route for the development of flexible, high-performance energy storage devices. Full article

Achieving efficient electrocatalytic oxidation of cellulose-derived biomass is a pivotal strategy for advancing bioenergy utilization and achieving carbon neutrality. This study addresses the challenges of low conversion efficiency caused by cellulose’s high crystallinity and excessive energy consumption in conventional processes by proposing a novel integrated system combining solid heteropoly acid catalytic pretreatment and electrocatalytic oxidation. By preparing the (C₁₆TA)H₂PW solid acid catalyst, we successfully achieved hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose under 180 °C for 60 min, attaining a glucose yield of 40.1%. Furthermore, a non-noble metal electrocatalyst system based on foam copper (CuF) was developed, with the Co₃O₄/CuF electrode material demonstrating a Faradaic efficiency of 85.3% for formate production at 1.66 V (vs. RHE) in 1 mol L⁻¹ KOH electrolyte containing the pretreated cellulose mixture, accompanied by a partial current density of 153.2 mA cm⁻². The mechanism study indicates that hydroxyl radical-mediated C-C bond selective cleavage dominates the formate generation. This integrated system overcomes the limitations of poor catalyst stability and low product selectivity in biomass conversion, offering a sustainable strategy for green manufacturing of high-value chemicals from cellulose. Full article

Mixed transition metal sulfides are promising materials for positive electrodes of asymmetric supercapacitors because they have a large potential for increasing the electrical characteristics of these devices. The paper presents the results of a study of a material based on spinel CuCoNiS_xO_4−x with both sulfide and oxide sublattices, prepared by a one-step hydrothermal method directly on nickel foam, forming an array of whiskers. Electrochemical studies showed that a positive electrode, CuCoNiS₂O₂, exhibited a high specific capacitance of 3612 F g⁻¹ at a current density of 1 A g⁻¹. The assembled asymmetric supercapacitor with activated carbon as a negative electrode achieved a specific capacitance of 133.5 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹ and a potential window of 1.7 V. Its energy density was 53.6 Wh kg⁻¹ at a power density of 805 W kg⁻¹ and the power density reached 17,000 W kg⁻¹ at an energy density of 18.9 W h kg⁻¹. The assembled device exhibits 52% of capacitance retention after the 20,000 cycles at a current density of 10 A g⁻¹ with 97% coulombic efficiency. These results demonstrate that the CuCoNiS_xO_4−x system is competitive with other quaternary transition metal sulfides, and this type of spinel is a perspective electrode material for high-performance supercapacitors. Full article

Discarded sports waste faces bottlenecks in application due to inadequate disposal measures, and there is often a neglect of enhancing resource utilization efficiency and minimizing environmental impact. In this study, nanoporous biochar was prepared through co-hydrothermal carbonization (co-HTC) and pyrolytic activation by using mixed goose feathers and heavy-metals-contaminated pine sawdust. Comprehensive characterization demonstrated that the prepared M-3-25 (Biochar derived from mixed feedstocks (25 mg/g Cu in pine sawdust) at 700 °C with activator ratios of 3) possesses a high specific surface area 2501.08 m² g⁻¹ and abundant heteroatomic (N, O, and Cu), exhibiting an outstanding physicochemical structure and ultrahigh electrochemical performance. Compared to nanocarbon from a single feedstock, M-3-25 showed an ultrahigh capacitance of 587.14 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹, high energy density of 42.16 Wh kg⁻¹, and only 8.61% capacitance loss after enduring 10,000 cycles at a current density of 10 A g⁻¹, positioning M-3-25 at the forefront of previously known biomass-derived nanoporous carbon supercapacitors. This research not only introduces a promising countermeasure for the disposal of sports waste but also provides superior biochar electrode materials with robust supercapacitor characteristics. Full article

M²⁺N⁴⁺Nb₂O₈-type ceramics (where M = Mg, Ca, Mn, Co, Ni, Zn and N = Ti, Zr) are essential for satellite communication and mobile base stations due to their medium relative permittivity (ε_r) and high quality factor (Q × f). Although ZnTi_0.2Zr_0.8Nb₂O₈ ceramic exhibits impressive microwave dielectric properties, including an ε_r of 29.75, a Q × f of 107,303 GHz, and a τ_f of −24.41 ppm/°C, its sintering temperature of 1150 °C remains a significant barrier for integration into low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) technologies. To overcome this limitation, a strategy involving the partial substitution of Zn²⁺ with Cu²⁺ and the addition of LiF as a sintering aid was devised for ZnTi_0.2Zr_0.8Nb₂O₈. The dual impact of Cu²⁺ partial substitution and LiF as a sintering enhancer facilitated the successful sintering of Cu_0.3Zn_0.7Ti_0.2Zr_0.8Nb₂O₈ ceramics at a reduced temperature of 950 °C using the conventional solid-state reaction method. These ceramics exhibited excellent microwave dielectric properties. Notably, Cu_0.3Zn_0.7Ti_0.2Zr_0.8Nb₂O₈ ceramic with 40 mol% LiF addition demonstrated optimal microwave dielectric properties without any reaction with a silver electrode at a sintering temperature of 950 °C, yielding ε_r = 32, Q × f = 45,543 GHz, and τ_f = −43.5 ppm/°C. Full article

Micro/nano-heterostructure with subtle structural design is an effective strategy to reduce the self-aggregation of 2D structure and maintain a large specific surface area to achieve high-performance supercapacitors. Herein, we report a rationally designed micro/nano-heterostructure of complex ternary transition metal oxides (TMOs) by a two-step hydrothermal method. Microflake-assembled island-like CuCo₂O₄ frameworks and secondary inserted units of NiMoO₄ nanosheets endow CuCo₂O₄/NiMoO₄ composites with desired micro/nanostructure features. Three-dimensional architectures constructed from CuCo₂O₄ microflakes offer a robust skeleton to endure structural change during cycling and provide efficient and rapid pathways for ion and electron transport. Two-dimensional NiMoO₄ nanosheets possess numerous active sites and multi-access ion paths. Benefiting from above-mentioned advantages, the CuCo₂O₄/NiMoO₄ heterostructures exhibit superior pseudocapacitive performance with a high specific capacitance of 2350 F/g at 1 A/g as well as an excellent cycling stability of 91.5% over 5000 cycles. A solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor based on the CuCo₂O₄/NiMoO₄ electrode as a positive electrode and activated carbon as a negative electrode achieves a high energy density of 51.7 Wh/kg at a power density of 853.7 W/kg. These results indicate that the hybrid micro/nanostructured TMOs will be promising for high-performance supercapacitors. Full article

The combination of multiple electrode materials and their reasonable structural design are conducive to the preparation of composite electrodes with excellent performance. In this study, based on carbon nanofibers grown with Ni(OH)₂ and NiO (CHO) prepared by electrospinning, hydrothermal growth, and low-temperature carbonization, five transition metal sulfides (MnS, CoS, FeS, CuS, and NiS) were hydrothermally grown on their surfaces, exhibiting that CHO/NiS had the optimal electrochemical properties. Subsequently, the effect of hydrothermal growth time on CHO/NiS revealed that the electrochemical performance of CHO/NiS-3h was optimal, with a specific capacitance of up to 1717 F g⁻¹ (1 A g⁻¹), due to its multistage core–shell structure. Moreover, the diffusion-controlled process of CHO/NiS-3h dominated its charge energy storage mechanism. Finally, the asymmetric supercapacitor assembled with CHO/NiS-3h as the positive electrode demonstrated an energy density of 27.76 Wh kg⁻¹ at a maximum power density of 4000 W kg⁻¹, and it still maintained a power density of 800 W kg⁻¹ at a maximum energy density of 37.97 Wh kg⁻¹, exhibiting the potential application of multistage core–shell composite materials in high-performance supercapacitors. Full article

Due to demands for sustainability, the interest in energy storage devices constructed from green materials has increased immensely. These devices currently have yet to be satisfactory. Issues include high production costs and toxicity, limited dependability, and subpar electrochemical performance. In this research, low-cost, plant-based electroactive Cu₃Mo₂O₉ materials were synthesized via co-precipitation followed by an annealing method using two different structure-directing agents, i.e., the commonly used surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and the biomolecule deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as a greener alternative, and these materials were studied for the first time. Further, the Cu₃Mo₂O₉ nanoparticles developed using CTAB and DNA were integrated into the lignin matrix and studied as flexible electrodes for supercapacitor application. Here, the morphological advantages of the nanorods and nanosheets formed by varying the synthesis methods and their effects during supercapacitor studies were studied in detail. After 1200 cycles, the Al/lig-Cu₃Mo₂O₉@DNA supercapacitor exhibited higher capacitive performance when compared to the Al/lig-Cu₃Mo₂O₉@CTAB supercapacitor. The Al/Lig-Cu₃Mo₂O₉@DNA supercapacitor had an initial specific capacitance of 404.64 mF g⁻¹ with a ~70% retention, while the Al/Lig-Cu₃Mo₂O₉@CTAB supercapacitor had an initial specific capacitance of 309.59 mF g⁻¹ with a ~50% retention. This study offers a new approach to creating scalable, low-cost, green composite CuMoO₄-based electrodes for flexible supercapacitors. Full article

Dandelion-like CuCo₂O₄ nanoflowers (CCO NFs) with ultrathin NiMn layered double hydroxide (LDH) shells were fabricated via a two-step hydrothermal method. The prepared CuCo₂O₄@NiMn LDH core/shell nanoflowers (CCO@NM LDH NFs) possessed a high specific surface area (~181 m²·g⁻¹) with an average pore size of ~256 nm. Herein, the CCO@NM LDH NFs exhibited the typical battery-type electrode material with a specific capacity of 2156.53 F·g⁻¹ at a current density of 1 A·g⁻¹. With the increase in current density, the rate capability retention was 68.3% at a current density of 10 A·g⁻¹. In particular, the 94.6% capacity of CCO@NM LDH NFs remains after 2500 cycles at 5 A·g⁻¹. An asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) with CCO@NM LDH NFs//activated carbon (AC) demonstrates a remarkable capacitance of 303.11 F·g⁻¹ at 1 A·g⁻¹ with excellent cycling stability. The coupling and synergistic effects of multi-valence transition metals provide a convenient channel for the electrochemical process, which is beneficial to spread widely within the realm of electrochemical energy storage. Full article

This investigation is motivated by increasing interest in the development of magnetically ordered pseudocapacitors (MOPC), which exhibit interesting magnetocapacitive effects. Here, advanced pseudocapacitive properties of magnetic CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles in negative potential range are reported, suggesting that CuFe₂O₄ is a promising MOPC and advanced negative electrode material for supercapacitors. A high capacitance of 2.76 F cm⁻² is achieved at a low electrode resistance in a relatively large potential window of 0.8 V. The cyclic voltammograms and galvanostatic charge–discharge data show nearly ideal pseudocapacitive behavior. Good electrochemical performance is achieved at a high active mass loading due to the use of chelating molecules of ammonium salt of purpuric acid (ASPA) as a co-dispersant for CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles and conductive multiwalled carbon nanotube (MCNT) additives. The adsorption of ASPA on different materials is linked to structural features of ASPA, which allows for different interaction and adsorption mechanisms. The combination of advanced magnetic and pseudocapacitive properties in a negative potential range in a single MOPC material provides a platform for various effects related to the influence of pseudocapacitive/magnetic properties on magnetic/pseudocapacitive behavior. Full article

The nanoparticles of CeO₂, Ce_0.98Fe_0.02O₂, and Ce_0.78Fe_0.02Cu_0.20O₂ were synthesized using the co-precipitation-synthesis technique. The effect of co-doping of Fe and Cu on structural, optical, and magnetic properties as well as specific capacitance have been studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning-electron microscopy (SEM), UV-visible spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, dc magnetization, and electrochemical measurements at room temperature. The results of the XRD analysis infer that all the samples have a single-phase nature and exclude the formation of any extra phase. Particle size has been found to reduce as a result of doping and co-doping. The smallest particle size was obtained to be 5.59 nm for Ce_0.78Fe_0.02Cu_0.20O₂. The particles show a spherical-shape morphology. Raman active modes, corresponding to CeO₂, were observed in the Raman spectra, with noticeable shifting with doping and co-doping indicating the presence of defect states. The bandgap, calculated using UV-Vis spectroscopy, showed relatively low bandgap energy (1.7 eV). The dc magnetization results indicate the enhancement of the magnetic moment in the samples, with doping and co-doping. The highest value of saturation magnetization (1.3 × 10⁻² emu/g) has been found for Ce_0.78Fe_0.02Cu_0.20O₂ nanoparticles. The electrochemical behavior studied using cyclic-voltammetry (CV) measurements showed that the Ce_0.98Fe_0.02O₂ electrode exhibits superior-specific capacitance (~532 F g⁻¹) along with capacitance retention of ~94% for 1000 cycles. Full article

AB₂O₄-type binary-transition metal oxides (BTMOs) of CuCo₂O₄ and MnCo₂O₄ were successfully prepared on ordered macroporous electrode plates (OMEP) for supercapacitors. Under the current density of 5 mA cm⁻², the CuCo₂O₄/OMEP electrode achieved a specific capacitance of 1199 F g⁻¹. The asymmetric supercapacitor device prepared using CuCo₂O₄/OMEP as the positive electrode and carbon-based materials as the negative electrode (CuCo₂O₄/OMEP//AC) achieved the power density of 14.58 kW kg⁻¹ under the energy density of 11.7 Wh kg⁻¹. After 10,000 GCD cycles, the loss capacitance of CuCo₂O₄/OMEP//AC is only 7.5% (the retention is 92.5%). The MnCo₂O₄/OMEP electrode shows the specific and area capacitance of 843 F g⁻¹ and 5.39 F cm⁻² at 5 mA cm⁻². The MnCo₂O₄/OMEP-based supercapacitor device (MnCo₂O₄/OMEP//AC) has a power density of 8.33 kW kg⁻¹ under the energy density of 11.6 Wh kg⁻¹ and the cycle stability was 90.2% after 10,000 cycles. The excellent power density and cycle stability prove that the prepared hybrid supercapacitor fabricated under silicon process has a good prospect as the power buffer device for solar cells. Full article

Metallic oxides are considered promising candidates for supercapacitors owing to their inherent pseudocapacitive behavior and superior electrochemical properties. In this work, NiCo₂O₄, CuCo₂O₄, and CuCo₂O₄@NiCo₂O₄ composite electrodes are synthesized directly on a nickel foam substrate via the facile hydrothermal method. The phase of the prepared materials was analyzed using the X-ray diffraction method. The morphology of the prepared binder-free electrodes was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemical testing was done in a 2 M KOH solution against an Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The CuCo₂O₄@NiCo₂O₄ composite electrode demonstrated a value of specific capacitance as high as 422 F g⁻¹ at a current density of 1 A g⁻¹ and thus outperformed the NiCo₂O₄ and CuCo₂O₄ in terms of its electrochemical performance. The CuCo₂O₄@NiCo₂O₄ composite retained a specific capacitance of 278 F g⁻¹ even with the increase of current density to 10 A g⁻¹, which corresponds to a 34% loss of capacitance compared to 40% and 48% of individual NiCo₂O₄ and CuCo₂O₄ electrodes, respectively. Hence, the synergy in a composite material demonstrates it to be a potential candidate as an electrode in supercapacitors. Full article