LiMnBO₃ nanobeads as an innovative anode material for high power lithium ion capacitor applications

A novel approach was made to fabricate lithium ion hybrid capacitor (Li-HC) having LiMnBO3 nanobead (LMB-NB) anode and polyaniline nanofiber (PANI) cathode in 1 M LiPF6 organic electrolyte. LMB-NB and PANI nanofibers were synthesized using urea assisted microwave-solvothermal method and chemical polymerization process, respectively. The PANI/LMB-NB cell showed improved electrochemical capacitive behavior as compared to activated carbon (AC)/LMB-NB cell due to the characteristic conductivity and the morphological feature of PANI as well as LMB-NB electrodes. A discharge capacitance (DCcell) of ∼125 F g(-1) was obtained at a current density of 1 A g(-1) between the potential range 0 and 3 V for PANI/LMB-NB cell, while AC/LMB-NB cell delivered only 77 F g(-1) at the same current density. Moreover, PANI/LMB-NB cell exhibited excellent rate performance with the DCcell of about 55 F g(-1) at 2.25 A g(-1) and still retained 94% of the initial value after 30 000 charge-discharge cycles. In addition, maximum energy and power densities of 42 Wh kg(-1) and 5350 W kg(-1), respectively, were achieved from PANI/LMB-NB cell. The obtained DCcell, energy, and power densities along with prolonged cyclic life for PANI/LMB-NB cell are some of the best ever reported values for Li-HC as compared to the cells constructed with various lithium intercalating materials.