ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Ultrasonic-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of MNCNT-decorated SmCoO₃ perovskite composite: a facile approach for high-performance energy storage applications

M. Sangeetha, N. Shobanadevi, M. Phemina Selvi, Mahaboob Beevi Mohamed Yusuf, and T. A. Sheeba

Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, M.A.M. School of Engineering, Siruganur, Tiruchirappalli, India

E-mail: sangee2maya@gmail.com

Received: 13 February 2024  Accepted: 2 May 2024

Abstract:

Samarium (Sm)-based perovskites exhibit considerable potential as electrode materials for supercapacitors. Our primary objective here was to develop and fabricate a robust energy storage electrode material by decorating SmCoO₃ onto a MWCNT nanostructure. Here, we devised an ultrasonic-assisted hydrothermal strategy to fabricate MWCNT–SmCoO₃ and detailed characterization was conducted on the crystal structure, powder morphology and electrochemical performance of the composite. The SmCoO₃ exhibited a cubic structure without any detectable impurities. Morphological analysis revealed an interconnected matrix nanostructure of SmCoO₃/MWCNT, forming agglomerates of hollow nanoflakes with a rough surface, alongside microstructures with average sizes ranging from 30 to 40 nm. Cyclic voltammetry results demonstrated the excellent capacitive behavior of the SmCoO₃/MWCNT hybrid, exhibiting a specific capacitance of 1542 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g. Moreover, the hybrid showed a remarkable 95% retention of specific capacitance after 10,000 continuous charge–discharge cycles. The asymmetric supercapacitor, utilizing activated carbon (AC) as the negative electrode, exhibits remarkable performance across a wide voltage range of 1.8 V. It achieves a maximum energy density of 49.1 Wh kg⁻¹ at 875 W kg⁻¹ and maintains a high energy density of 28.75 Wh kg⁻¹ even at an ultra-high-power density of 2105 W kg⁻¹, highlighting the significant advancements demonstrated in this study. This research introduces a facile approach for developing high-performance electrode materials customized for supercapacitor applications, leveraging synergistic effects for enhanced energy storage capabilities. The synergistic interaction between SmCoO₃ and MWCNTs results in improved charge transfer kinetics and enhanced ion accessibility, leading to superior electrochemical performance and prolonged cycle life in energy storage applications.

Keywords: Energy storage device; SmCoO3/MWCNT; Super capacitor electrode; Synergistic effect

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-024-03504-4

Chemical Papers 78 (9) 5599–5613 (2024)