Unveiling dynamic insights of nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots in α-Fe2O3/PANI nanocomposite for supercapattery application

Abstract

We have developed a novel ternary nanocomposite comprising of nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots@α-Fe₂O₃/PANI (N-CQDs@α-Fe₂O₃/PANI nanocomposite) and use it as an active electrode material for supercapatteries. Doped carbon nanostructures-based nanocomposites are excellent candidates for electrochemical energy storage due to their tunability in the surface chemistry and availability of large electrochemical surface area. Initially, N-CQDs@α-Fe₂O₃ nanocomposite was synthesized and further insitu polymerization of aniline leads to the formation of N-CQDs@α-Fe₂O₃/PANI nanocomposite. The N-CQDs@α-Fe₂O₃ serves as a substrate to accommodate PANI to enhance the electrochemical activity. The specific capacity of the ternary nanocomposite electrode is 149 C g⁻¹ (with a corresponding specific capacitance of 372.5 F g⁻¹) at a current density of 1 A g⁻¹ in a 2 M KOH (aqueous) electrolyte with a coulombic efficiency of 99% after 3000 cycles. Hence, it is proposed that the N-CQDs@α-Fe₂O₃/PANI nanocomposite has been suitable for the ideal electrode material which has potential application in hybrid energy storage devices.