Polyethylene glycol mediated synthesis of iron vanadate (FeVO4) nanoparticles with supercapacitive features

Abstract

Binary transition metal oxides, such as iron vanadate (FeVO _4 ), possess unleashed potential to be the best electrode material for supercapacitor, owing to their high capacitance, stability and conductivity. This present work reports investigations on the influence of a surfactant, polyethylene glycol (PEG 4000), on the structure, morphology and electrochemical behaviour of FeVO _4 nanoparticles. The P4-FeVO _4 exhibited specific capacitance of 428.0 Fg ^−1 at a current density of 2.0 Ag ^−1 , and arguably better performance and cyclic stability than FeVO _4 synthesised without PEG 4000. Thus, PEG 4000 significantly influenced the morphological and electrochemical performance of the FeVO _4 . Furthermore, the assembled P4-FeVO _4 based symmetric capacitor device had a specific capacitance of 101.0 Fg ^−1 with an energy density of 14.1 Whkg ^−1 . This improved electrochemical performance of the P4-FeVO _4 based devices is attributed to the physicochemical properties of P4-FeVO _4 nanoparticles, mediated by the PEG 4000.

Keywords

• supercapacitor
• surfactant
• sol-gel synthesis
• iron vanadate
• electrode