High-performance hybrid supercapacitors enabled by CoTe@CoFeTe double-shelled nanocubes.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Metal tellurides possess superior electrical conductivity and electrochemical properties, making them suitable for energy storage.
• Supercapacitors require advanced electrode materials for enhanced performance and durability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel synthesis method for CoTe@CoFeTe double-shelled nanocubes.
• To evaluate the supercapacitive performance of the synthesized material.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF67) and CoFe Prussian blue analog (PBA) nanocubes.
• Conversion to Co3O4@CoFe2O4 double-shelled nanocubes via annealing.
• Tellurization to form CoTe@CoFeTe nanocubes.

Main Results:

• CoTe@CoFeTe nanocubes exhibited a specific capacity of 1312 C g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹.
• The material maintained 92.35% capacity after 10,000 cycles.
• A hybrid supercapacitor with activated carbon achieved an energy density of 64.66 W h kg⁻¹ and 88.25% capacity retention.

Conclusions:

• The developed CoTe@CoFeTe nanocubes demonstrate superior supercapacitive performance compared to oxide counterparts.
• The hollow structure and synergistic effect of mixed metals contribute to enhanced durability and performance.
• The material shows significant potential for advanced supercapacitor applications.