Transition Metal and Heteroatom Doped Carbon Composites as Electrodes for High Performance Asymmetric Supercapacitor

Abstract

In recent years, supercapacitors have gained significant interest as energy storage devices, due to their combination of high energy density (compared to traditional capacitors) and high-power density (compared to batteries). The major drawback is their lower energy density compared to batteries, which limits their use in applications requiring long-term energy storage systems. Improving the energy density of supercapacitors is a key focus in research and development efforts, as it directly impacts their performance and suitability for various applications. Developing cost-effective manufacturing processes and using abundant materials can make supercapacitors more commercially viable. Increasing the surface area of electrodes allows for more charge storage. Researchers explore nanomaterials like heteroatom doped graphene, carbon nanotubes, and various metal oxides to create high-surface-area structures. Transition metal-based nanomaterials, like metal oxides, hydroxides, or chalcogenides, can be synthesized in nanoscale dimensions, leading to a high surface area. This increased surface area provides more active sites for charge storage, enhancing the overall capacitance of the supercapacitor. However, these pseudocapacitor materials undergo structural degradation due to metal and electrolyte interaction leading to reduced cyclic stability and specific capacitance. Carbon-based materials are known for their high electrical conductivity, providing efficient electron transport newline