Supercapacitors, sometimes referred to as electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) or ultracapacitors, are cutting-edge energy storage devices with special qualities.
Graphical Abstract. Image Credit: Higher Education Press
Supercapacitors, in contrast to conventional batteries, store energy by means of the electrostatic separation of charges at the interface between a high-surface-area electrode and an electrolyte.
Because of this mechanism, supercapacitors can store and release energy quickly, resulting in high power bursts and an exceptional cycle life.
Supercapacitors are essential to the fields of environmental preservation and renewable energy. Supercapacitors are essential parts of energy storage and delivery systems in the context of renewable energy. Supercapacitors are an excellent choice for balancing out erratic energy sources like solar and wind power to provide a steady and dependable energy supply because of their quick energy storage and release capabilities.
Supercapacitors are excellent environmentally friendly substitutes for conventional energy storage devices. Supercapacitors extended lifespan, rapid charging and discharging capacities, and diminished ecological footprint render them eco-friendly options.
Furthermore, their use in hybrid and electric car systems promotes the shift to greener modes of transportation, supporting international initiatives to cut carbon emissions and address climate change. All things considered, supercapacitors play a major role in advancing environmentally friendly practices and sustainable energy solutions.
Engineering oxygen vacancies is considered a powerful method for enhancing metal oxides’ electrochemical performance in supercapacitors. Expanding on the base of the hydrothermally synthesized NiFe2O4, Prof. Jianqiang Bi's group has recently successfully synthesized NiFe2O4−δ, which is characterized by an abundance of oxygen vacancies, through a subsequent heat treatment process in an activated carbon bed.
After careful processing, the NiFe2O4−δ was produced, showing better conductivity and an impressive 3.7 times higher capacitance than the NiFe2O4 equivalent.
The enhancement in electrochemical properties that have been observed highlights the crucial function that oxygen vacancies play in maximizing the efficiency of metal oxides. Their study’s findings firmly support the idea that purposeful oxygen vacancy introduction has great potential to improve metal oxides’ electrochemical characteristics and position them as attractive materials for supercapacitor electrodes.
This newfound knowledge highlights the substantial influence of oxygen vacancy engineering on the creation of high-performance supercapacitors and opens up possibilities for possible applications in the field of energy storage.
Chen Liu, Xicheng Gao, Linjie Meng, and Lulin Xie from Shandong University in China are also members of Prof. Jianqiang Bi’s research team. Major Basic Research Projects of the Shandong Natural Science Foundation, the Science and Technology Development Project of Shandong, and the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong supported the study.
Journal Reference:
Gao, X., et al. (2023) Activated carbon induced oxygen vacancies-engineered nickel ferrite with enhanced conductivity for supercapacitor application. Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering. doi.org/10.1007/s11705-023-2352-6