Vertically-aligned BCN nanotube arrays with superior performance in electrochemical capacitors

Electrochemical capacitors (EC) have received tremendous interest due to their high potential to satisfy the urgent demand in many advanced applications. The development of new electrode materials is considered to be the most promising approach to enhance the EC performance substantially. Herein, we present a high-capacity capacitor material based on vertically-aligned BC₂N nanotube arrays (VA-BC₂NNTAs) synthesized by low temperature solvothermal route. The obtained VA-BC₂NNTAs display the good aligned nonbuckled tubular structure, which could indeed advantageously enhance capacitor performance. VA-BC₂NNTAs exhibit an extremely high specific capacitance, 547 Fg(-1), which is about 2-6 times larger than that of the presently available carbon-based materials. Meanwhile, VA-BC₂NNTAs maintain an excellent rate capability and high durability. All these characteristics endow VA-BC₂NNTAs an alternative promising candidate for an efficient electrode material for electrochemical capacitors (EC).