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13 pages, 18841 KB

Open AccessArticle

Hierarchical NiV-LDH Nanosheet Arrays Vertically Grown on MXene-Embedded Carbon Nanofibers for High-Performance Flexible Supercapacitors

by Deyang Zhang, Wenbo Guo, Binhe Feng, Yikai Ge, Tao Peng, Jinbing Cheng and Paul K. Chu

Nanomaterials 2026, 16(16), 1014; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16161014 - 17 Aug 2026

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Abstract

A flexible integrated composite electrode is fabricated using NiV-layered double hydroxide (NiV-LDH) nanosheets grown perpendicularly onto a Ti₃C₂T_x MXene-incorporated carbon nanofiber scaffold (MXene/CNFs). This hybrid structure, prepared by electrospinning and a hydrothermal treatment, is referred to as NiV-LDH@MXene/CNFs. Constructed from a conductive MXene/CNF scaffold and vertically aligned NiV-LDH nanosheets, the integrated flexible electrode offers uninterrupted electron transport, good flexibility, abundant active sites, and strong interfacial cohesion, thereby obviating the use of polymeric binders and conductive additives. The hydrophilic nature of MXene and the three-dimensionally interconnected porous structure favor rapid electrolyte uptake and ion diffusion. As a result of these synergistic effects, the composite exhibits a specific capacitance of 614 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹ and retains 60% of its initial capacitance after 10,000 cycles at 5 A g⁻¹ in a three-electrode cell. An asymmetric supercapacitor made of this material and activated carbon achieves 68.75% capacitance retention under the same cycling protocol at 5 A g⁻¹ and shows a stable open-circuit voltage of 1.37 V. Two cells in series are capable of lighting a 3 V LED strip. Overall, this work validates an effective strategy to prepare high-capacity, robust, and binder-free flexible electrodes for advanced energy-storage applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2D Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage)

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14 pages, 5465 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Thin and Flexible PANI/PMMA/CNF Forest Films Produced via a Two-Step Floating Catalyst Chemical Vapor Deposition

by Foteini-Maria Papadopoulou, Spyros Soulis, Aikaterini-Flora A. Trompeta and Costas A. Charitidis

Materials 2024, 17(23), 5812; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17235812 - 27 Nov 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1862

Abstract

In this paper, we explore a straightforward two-step method to produce high-purity, vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanofibres (MWCNFs) via chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Two distinct solutions are utilized for this CVD method: a catalytic solution consisting of ferrocene and acetonitrile (ACN) and a carbon source solution with camphor and ACN. The vapors of the catalytic solution inserted in the reaction chamber through external boiling result in a floating catalyst CVD approach that produces vertically aligned CNFs in a consistent manner. CNFs are grown in a conventional CVD horizontal reactor at 850 °C under atmospheric pressure and characterized by Raman spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Coating the MWCNTs with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) while still on the Si substrate retains the structure and results in a flexible, conductive thin film suitable for flexible electrodes. The film is 62 μm thick and stable in aqueous solutions, capable of withstanding further processing, such as electropolymerization with polyaniline, to be used for energy storage applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Technologies for Development of Novel Materials Systems and Coatings (Volume 2))

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11 pages, 2651 KB

Open AccessCommunication

Synthesis of Needle-like CoO Nanowires Decorated with Electrospun Carbon Nanofibers for High-Performance Flexible Supercapacitors

by Xiang Zhang

Nanomaterials 2024, 14(21), 1770; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14211770 - 4 Nov 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1923

Abstract

Needle-like CoO nanowires have been successfully synthesized by a facile hydrothermal process on an electrospun carbon nanofibers substrate. The as-prepared sample mesoporous CoO nanowires aligned vertically on the surface of carbon nanofibers and cross-linked with each other, producing loosely porous nanostructures. These hybrid composite electrodes exhibit a high specific capacitance of 1068.3 F g⁻¹ at a scan rate of 5 mV s⁻¹ and a good rate capability of 613.7 F g⁻¹ at a scan rate of 60 mV s⁻¹ in a three-electrode cell. The CoO NWs@CNF//CNT@CNF asymmetric device exhibits remarkable cycling stability and delivers a capacitance of 79.3 F/g with a capacitance retention of 92.1 % after 10,000 cycles. The asymmetric device delivers a high energy density of 37 Wh kg⁻¹ with a power density of 0.8 kW kg⁻¹ and a high power density of 16 kW kg⁻¹ with an energy density of 23 Wh kg⁻¹. This study demonstrated a promising strategy to enhance the electrochemical performance of flexible supercapacitors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanocomposites for Batteries and Supercapacitors)

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12 pages, 6152 KB

Open AccessArticle

Growth and Characterization of Carbon Nanofibers Grown on Vertically Aligned InAs Nanowires via Chemical Vapour Deposition

by Muhammad Arshad, Lucia Sorba, Petra Rudolf and Cinzia Cepek

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(24), 3083; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13243083 - 5 Dec 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2699

Abstract

The integration of carbon nanostructures with semiconductor nanowires holds significant potential for energy-efficient integrated circuits. However, achieving precise control over the positioning and stability of these interconnections poses a major challenge. This study presents a method for the controlled growth of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) on vertically aligned indium arsenide (InAs) nanowires. The CNF/InAs hybrid structures, synthesized using chemical vapor deposition (CVD), were successfully produced without compromising the morphology of the pristine nanowires. Under optimized conditions, preferential growth of the carbon nanofibers in the direction perpendicular to the InAs nanowires was observed. Moreover, when the CVD process employed iron as a catalyst, an increased growth rate was achieved. With and without the presence of iron, carbon nanofibers nucleate preferentially on the top of the InAs nanowires, indicating a tip growth mechanism presumably catalysed by a gold-indium alloy that selectively forms in that region. These results represent a compelling example of controlled interconnections between adjacent InAs nanowires formed by carbon fibers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Nanotubes and Nanosheets for Sustainable Solutions)

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