Carbon Dot Regulating NiSe/MnO₂ Heterostructures for High-Performance Supercapacitors.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Structural regulation is key to improving electrode performance in energy storage devices.
• Lignin-derived carbon dots (LCDs) offer potential for material functionalization.
• Nickel-selenium (NiSe) and Manganese Dioxide (MnO2) are promising electrode materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the use of LCDs for structural tailoring of NiSe/MnO2 composites.
• To enhance the electrochemical performance of supercapacitor electrodes.
• To improve ion transport and electron transfer kinetics.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of dendritic NiSe microcrystals using microwave irradiation.
• Preparation of NF/NiSe/MnO2-LCDs composite via microwave-assisted synthesis.
• Electrochemical characterization of the composite material for supercapacitor applications.

Main Results:

• NF/NiSe/MnO2-LCDs exhibited a specific capacitance of 2268 F g-1 at 1 A g-1.
• The composite demonstrated excellent lifespan with 84.43% retention over 3000 cycles.
• An asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) using NF/NiSe/MnO2-LCDs achieved an energy density of 51.62 Wh kg-1 and 88.46% retention over 7000 cycles.

Conclusions:

• LCDs effectively tailor the structure of NiSe/MnO2 for superior supercapacitor performance.
• Enhanced ion transport and electron transfer contribute to improved electrochemical properties.
• The developed electrode material shows significant potential for high-capacity and durable energy storage solutions.