Co-BDC MOF/Graphene Nanohybrid as an Efficient Electrode Material for High-Performance Supercapacitors

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Supercapacitors require advanced electrode materials for improved energy storage and longevity.
• Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer tunable structures but often face challenges in electrochemical stability.
• Graphene-based materials enhance conductivity and stability in energy storage applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel nanoporous carbon/reduced graphene oxide (NPC/rGO) hybrid electrode for supercapacitors.
• To investigate the effect of a reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-assisted metal-organic framework (MOF) conversion strategy.
• To enhance the electrochemical performance and long-term stability of supercapacitor electrodes.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a Co-BDC MOF/rGO hybrid via in-situ growth.
• Controlled pyrolysis of the hybrid to form a Co-BDC-derived nanoporous carbon (NPC)/rGO electrode.
• Electrochemical characterization of the electrode in a supercapacitor device.
• Fabrication and testing of an asymmetric supercapacitor device (NPC/rGO-10//rGO).

Main Results:

• The optimized NPC/rGO-10 electrode achieved a specific capacitance of 172 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹ with 96% retention after 6,000 cycles.
• The asymmetric device demonstrated stable operation for over 30,000 cycles, maintaining 94.4% capacitance.
• rGO incorporation significantly reduced cobalt (Co) leaching, enhancing chemical stability.
• The rGO-assisted conversion yielded a uniform, conductive, and porous carbon architecture with well-dispersed Co⁰ species.

Conclusions:

• The rGO-assisted MOF-to-carbon conversion strategy is effective for creating robust nanoporous carbon/graphene hybrids.
• The developed NPC/rGO electrode exhibits excellent electrochemical performance, long-term stability, and suppressed metal leaching.
• This approach offers a promising pathway for designing high-performance electrode materials for advanced supercapacitors.