N-doped carbon nanofibers arrays as advanced electrodes for supercapacitors

doi:10.1016/j.jmst.2019.10.004

Abstract

Abstract:

The advancement of supercapacitors largely relies on the innovation of electrode materials with high-rate performance and ultra-long cycling stability. In this work, unique N-doped nanofibers on carbon cloth (N-CNFs/CC) are prepared by an electrodeposition-annealing method for application in supercapacitors. The as-prepared N-doped nanofibers (N-CNFs) show diameters of 100-150 nm and cross-link with each other forming porous conductive network. Due to enhanced conductivity and reinforced structural stability, the N-CNFs/CC arrays are demonstrated with better electrochemical performance than CNFs/CC counterpart, including higher specific capacitance (195.2 F g^-1 at a current density of 2.5 A g^-1), excellent rate capability (80.5.% capacity retention as the rate increases from 2.5-20 A g^-1) and good cycling stability (99.5.% retention after 10,000 cycles). These reinforced electrochemical properties are attributed to N-doped conductive architecture with faster ion/electron transfer paths and more active sites. Our findings may offer a new way for construction of advanced high-rate electrodes for energy storage.

Key words: Supercapacitors, Carbon fibers, Electrode, Porous materials, Electrodeposition

Guoxiang Pan, Feng Cao, Yujian Zhang, Xinhui Xia. N-doped carbon nanofibers arrays as advanced electrodes for supercapacitors[J]. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2020, 55: 144-151.

Figures/Tables 8

Fig. 1. (a) Schematic illustration of preparation process of N-CNFs/CC. SEM images of (b-c) carbon cloth (CC) substrate and (d-g) N-CNFs/CC electrode.

Fig. 2. (a-b) SEM images of CNFs/CC electrodes (inset images: magnified CNFs and low-magnification image).

Fig. 3. (a-c) TEM-HRTEM images and (d) SAED pattern of N-CNFs. (e) Elemental mapping images of N-CNFs: C, N, O.

Fig. 4. (a-c) TEM-HRTEM image of CNFs (SAED pattern in inset).

Fig. 5. (a) XRD patterns and (b) Raman spectra of N-CNFs/CC and CNFs/CC samples. XPS spectra of N-CNFs/CC and CNFs/CC arrays: (c) N 1s and (d) C 1s. (e) Adsorption-desorption isotherm curves of N-CNFs and CNFs samples.

Fig. 6. Electrochemical characterization of N-CNFs/CC and CNFs/CC electrodes. (a, c) CV curves at different scanning rates; (b, d) Charge/discharge curves at different current densities.

Fig. 7. Electrochemical performance of N-CNFs/CC and CNFs/CC electrodes. (a) Rate performance; (b) Nyquist plots; (c) Cycling performance at 2.5 A g-1.

Fig. 8. SEM images of N-CNFs electrode after 10,000 cycles at 2.5 A g-1.

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