{"title":"Hydrothermal synthesis of g-C3N4/Cu2S nanocomposites for high-performance solid-state symmetric supercapacitors with real-time LED demonstration","authors":"Sathesh Solaman, Tamilmani Nagarajan, Saravanakumar Masan, Sakunthala Ayyasamy, Jayabal Palanisamy","doi":"10.1007/s10854-026-18552-7","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The graphitic carbon nitride and copper sulfide (g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>/Cu<sub>2</sub>S) nanocomposites (NCs) with varying Cu<sub>2</sub>S concentrations (2–6%) were successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal approach for high-performance supercapacitor applications. The structural, morphological, optical, and electrochemical properties of the synthesized materials were systematically investigated using X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Ultraviolet–Visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The XRD results confirmed the successful formation of crystalline g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>/Cu<sub>2</sub>S heterostructures, while FESEM analysis revealed an interconnected porous morphology favorable for rapid ion diffusion and electron transport. Electrochemical investigations demonstrated that the incorporation of Cu<sub>2</sub>S significantly enhanced the capacitive performance of g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> due to improved conductivity and increased electroactive sites. Among all samples, the g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>/Cu<sub>2</sub>S-6% nanocomposite exhibited the highest specific capacitance of 2060.36 F/g at 0.5 A/g in a three-electrode system. The fabricated solid-state symmetric supercapacitor device delivered a remarkable energy density of 95.56 Wh/kg and power density of 45,854 W/kg, along with excellent cyclic stability of 98% capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles. Series-connected devices powered red, green, and yellow LEDs, underscoring their practical potential for energy storage applications. These findings demonstrate that the synergistic interaction between g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> and Cu<sub>2</sub>S provides enhanced electrochemical kinetics and outstanding energy storage performance, making the g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>/Cu<sub>2</sub>S nanocomposite a promising electrode material for next-generation supercapacitor applications.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":646,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics","volume":"37 28","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2000,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10854-026-18552-7","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The graphitic carbon nitride and copper sulfide (g-C3N4/Cu2S) nanocomposites (NCs) with varying Cu2S concentrations (2–6%) were successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal approach for high-performance supercapacitor applications. The structural, morphological, optical, and electrochemical properties of the synthesized materials were systematically investigated using X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Ultraviolet–Visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The XRD results confirmed the successful formation of crystalline g-C3N4/Cu2S heterostructures, while FESEM analysis revealed an interconnected porous morphology favorable for rapid ion diffusion and electron transport. Electrochemical investigations demonstrated that the incorporation of Cu2S significantly enhanced the capacitive performance of g-C3N4 due to improved conductivity and increased electroactive sites. Among all samples, the g-C3N4/Cu2S-6% nanocomposite exhibited the highest specific capacitance of 2060.36 F/g at 0.5 A/g in a three-electrode system. The fabricated solid-state symmetric supercapacitor device delivered a remarkable energy density of 95.56 Wh/kg and power density of 45,854 W/kg, along with excellent cyclic stability of 98% capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles. Series-connected devices powered red, green, and yellow LEDs, underscoring their practical potential for energy storage applications. These findings demonstrate that the synergistic interaction between g-C3N4 and Cu2S provides enhanced electrochemical kinetics and outstanding energy storage performance, making the g-C3N4/Cu2S nanocomposite a promising electrode material for next-generation supercapacitor applications.
期刊介绍：
The Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics is an established refereed companion to the Journal of Materials Science. It publishes papers on materials and their applications in modern electronics, covering the ground between fundamental science, such as semiconductor physics, and work concerned specifically with applications. It explores the growth and preparation of new materials, as well as their processing, fabrication, bonding and encapsulation, together with the reliability, failure analysis, quality assurance and characterization related to the whole range of applications in electronics. The Journal presents papers in newly developing fields such as low dimensional structures and devices, optoelectronics including III-V compounds, glasses and linear/non-linear crystal materials and lasers, high Tc superconductors, conducting polymers, thick film materials and new contact technologies, as well as the established electronics device and circuit materials.
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