Molybdenum carbide nanoparticle-decorated 3D nitrogen-doped carbon flowers as an efficient electrode for high-performance, all-solid-state symmetric supercapacitors

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 748; pp. 134 - 144
• Main Authors: Samdani, Kunda J., Joh, Dong Woo, Lee, Kang Taek
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 05.06.2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: 3-D technology; 3D nanostructure; All-solid-state supercapacitor; Batteries; Carbides; Carbon; Catalysis; Catalytic activity; Electrochemical analysis; Electrode materials; Electrodes; Energy storage; Flowers; Flux density; Molybdenum; Molybdenum carbide; Nanoparticles; Nanostructured materials; Self-assembly; Solid state; Supercapacitors; Symmetric device; Three dimensional flow; All-solid-state supercapacitor; Symmetric device; Molybdenum carbide; 3D nanostructure
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2018.03.139

Electrode materials with high electro-catalytic activity and tailored nanostructures are of great importance for high performance energy storage devices. We develop a novel 3D nanostructured electrode with highly stable, and catalytically-active molybdenum carbide nanoparticles decorated on nitrogen-doped carbon flowers (Mo2C/NCF). The controlled synthesis of Mo2C/NCF provides a uniform distribution of Mo2C nanoparticles of ∼80 nm on carbon microflowers with a self-assembled petal-like structure. The Mo2C/NCF achieves excellent electrochemical performance, with a specific capacitance of 1250 F/g at the current density of 1 A/g in a liquid electrolyte. A device consisting of all-solid-state symmetric supercapacitors (SSC) that used this novel electrode exhibits a high energy density of 54 Wh/kg along with remarkable cycling stability (100% retention after 5000 cycles). We believe that these results provide a new way for carbide materials to be used in high-performance energy storage devices. [Display omitted] •Nanostructured Mo2C/NCF electrodes are developed via simple reflux reactions.•The Mo2C/NCF achieves an excellent specific capacitance of 1250 F/g at 1 A/g.•An all-solid-state symmetric supercapacitor exhibits an energy density of 54 Wh/kg.•After 5000 cycles, the specific capacitance retention of the Mo2C/NCF is 100%.