Farisabadi, A., Moradi, M., Hajati, S., Kiani, M.A., Espinos, J.P.

Applied Surface Science, 469 (2019) 192-203

DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2018.11.053

In the present study, two kinds of metal oxide/carbon nanocomposite were prepared through calcination of MIL-101(Fe, Cr). The morphological and structural properties of the specimens were investigated using X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller analysis, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The electrode materials were also electrochemically investigated using cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques in 6 M KOH electrolyte. Because of synergistic effect of metal oxides and carbon, the obtained samples showed excellent performance; in a way that Cr 2 O 3 /C and Fe x O y /C showed high specific capacitance of 420 F g −1 and 114 F g −1 at current density of 2 A g −1 , respectively. The Cr 2 O 3 /C electrode also displayed high rate capability even at scan rate of 1500 mV s −1 . Moreover, we successfully developed an asymmetric supercapacitor in which Cr 2 O 3 /C served as positive electrode and Fe x O y /C served as negative electrode. The asymmetric device can deliver an energy density of 9.6 W h kg −1 and power density of 8000 W kg −1 , with 93% capacitance retention after 3000 charge–discharge cycles. These outcomes show that the MOF-derived metal oxide/carbon composite can be regarded as a promising development for advanced electrode materials for applying in supercapacitors.