Journal of Materials Research and Technology (Sep 2023)
Design and usage of NiO/g-C3N4/CNTs/TiO2 based nanocomposites as improved supercapacitor for energy storage devices
Abstract
Scientists have been concentrating on storing and converting energy resources in significant scenarios as the entire globe is currently experiencing an extreme energy shortage issue owing to a variety of factors. Supercapacitors and other energy storage technologies based on transition metals are currently in high demand. In this study, multi-component NiO/g-C3N4/CNTs and NiO/g-C3N4/CNTs/TiO2 nanocomposites were effectively constructed, characterised, and the performance of the synthesized materials was reported as super capacitance. The synthesis of NiO/g-C3N4/CNTs and NiO/g-C3N4/CNTs/TiO2 using thermal, heat-treatment, hydrothermal and ultrasonic exfoliation techniques. With impressive findings, the characterisation of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) was conducted. Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Galvanic Charge Discharge (GCD), and scan rate influence on specific capacitance were used in the electrochemical experiments. Results of Electron Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) experiments revealed that the NiO/g-C3N4/CNTs/TiO2 electrode had a higher specific capacitance (388.76 Fg−1) than the NiO/g-C3N4/CNTs electrode (362.12 Fg−1). In comparison to NiO/g-C3N4/CNTs (360 Fg−1), the NiO/g-C3N4/CNTs/TiO2 electrode had a gravimetric capacitance of 541 Fg−1. The GCD curve and EIS results also support the conclusion that the NiO/g-C3N4/CNTs/TiO2 electrode material is an excellent candidate with impressive capacitive performance to be used as an energy storing source or supercapacitor because TiO2 contents are available, improving the charge transfer capability linked with CNTs bridged in g-C3N4 interlayered stacked and porous structure, ensuring ion diffusion pathways for better and improved conductivity.