Tailoring the electrochemical properties of Ni-doped Co3O4 for advanced supercapacitor electrodes

Abstract

The present study reports the successful synthesis of cobalt oxide doped with nickel (Ni-doped Co₃O₄) nanoparticles prepared by microwave methods for applications as supercapacitor electrodes. The structural and morphological characterizations using XRD, FTIR, FESEM, and HRTEM established the formation of nanocrystalline spinel-phase Co₃O₄ with effective Ni incorporation, thereby resulting in lattice distortion, increased surface area, and enhanced crystallinity. In a 1 M KOH electrolyte, electrochemical behaviour was investigated using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge experiments. The Ni-doped samples store charges better than the pure Co₃O₄ samples, with the maximum specific capacitance achieved being 143 F g^-1 at a current density of A g⁻¹. In addition, Ni-doped electrodes exhibit excellent durability and capacitance retention after 2000 cycles, indicating their viability for stable energy storage. The present work reveals that Ni doping enhances the electrochemical behavior of Co₃O₄ considerably, making Ni-doped Co₃O₄ a potential material for advanced energy storage purposes.