ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles decorated MoS2 nanosheets for high-performance supercapacitors

Abstract

This study presents a significant advancement in electrochemical energy storage by designing and synthesizing MoS₂/ZnFe₂O₄ Nanocomposites (NCs) with exceptional electrochemical properties. The NCs were synthesized using a hydrothermal process, combining MoS₂ Nanosheets (NS) with ZnFe₂O₄ Nanoparticles (NPs). This design leverages the synergistic benefits of both materials, resulting in superior capacitive performance compared to previous reports. The optimized 1:1 molar ratio of MoS₂/ZnFe₂O₄ NC demonstrated a specific capacitance of 2076.9 F/g at 25 A/g and retained 94.3 % of its capacitance after 2500 cycles. The MoS₂ NS acts as a substrate to prevent ZnFe₂O₄ NP agglomeration, while the ZnFe₂O₄ NPs inhibit MoS₂ NS restacking. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the MoS₂/ZnFe₂O₄ interface introduces new energy states near the Fermi level, boosting the heterostructure's capacitance. With their enhanced electrochemical performance, these NCs show great potential for diverse advanced energy storage and conversion systems.