Cu-Co Oxysulfide Nanoarchitecture for Fast-Charging Hybrid Supercapacitors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current materials for hybrid supercapacitors face limitations in cyclic performance, capacity retention, and energy storage density, particularly due to kinetically limited solid-state ion diffusion and poor electrochemical redox behavior.
Innovation Solution
The development of hierarchical copper-cobalt oxysulfide nanoarchitectures with flower-like morphology, synthesized using a simple low-temperature wet-chemical method on Ni-foam, providing enhanced electrochemical conductivity and redox activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If transition metal oxides are used as electrode materials, then electrochemical redox behavior and theoretical capacity are improved, but cyclic performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by combining transition metal oxides with conductive carbon matrices and binding polymers. The oxide particles provide high theoretical capacity through redox reactions, while the carbon matrix ensures cyclic stability and electrical conductivity. This composite structure resolves the contradiction between achieving high capacity and maintaining reliable cyclic performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes porous electrode structures where oxide particles are distributed within a porous carbon matrix. The porous architecture provides pathways for ion diffusion and accommodates volume changes during cycling, thereby maintaining cyclic performance while preserving the high capacity benefits of the oxide materials.
2Use of energy by moving object
If batteries are used for energy storage, then energy density is improved, but charge/discharge speed deteriorates due to solid-state ion diffusion limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating electrodes with spatially varying properties: oxide-rich regions provide high energy density through battery-type redox reactions, while carbon-rich regions provide fast ion transport pathways for rapid charge/discharge. This local differentiation allows the electrode to simultaneously achieve high energy density and fast kinetics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from bulk solid-state diffusion to surface-dominated reactions by using nanoscale oxide particles dispersed in a porous matrix. This dimensional reduction increases the surface area available for rapid ion exchange while maintaining the high capacity of the oxide material, effectively decoupling energy density from charge/discharge speed.
3Power
If supercapacitors are used for energy storage, then power density and cycle life are improved, but energy density deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the characteristics of batteries and supercapacitors into a hybrid electrode system. The transition metal oxides contribute battery-type pseudocapacitance for higher energy density, while the conductive carbon matrix provides supercapacitor-type electric double-layer capacitance for high power density. This merging allows the electrode to exhibit both high energy and high power characteristics simultaneously.
4Reliability
If carbonaceous materials are used as electrode materials, then electronic conductivity and cycle life are improved, but electrochemical performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses transition metal oxide particles as intermediaries that bridge the gap between carbonaceous materials and the electrolyte. The oxides provide active redox sites for electrochemical reactions, while the carbon matrix serves as a conductive intermediary that supports the oxide particles and facilitates electron transport. This intermediary arrangement enables the carbon structure to achieve high cycle life while the oxide particles provide the electrochemical capacity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The copper-cobalt oxysulfide nanoarchitectures demonstrate high specific capacity, excellent cycling stability, and improved energy storage performance, with a maximum area capacity of 462 μAh/cm2 and energy density of 0.33 mWh/cm2 at a power density of 2.1 W/cm2, suitable for powering small electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
transition metal oxides show good electrochemical redox behavior and higher theoretical capacity
Implementation Method 2
kinetically limited because of solid-state ion diffusion within the electrode material
Implementation Method 3
dissolving cobalt nitrate hexahydrate and copper nitrate in de-ionized (DI) water forming a growth solution
Data Source
AI summary
The invention discloses a method of fabricating a copper-cobalt (Cu—Co) oxysulfide nanoarchitecture, the method comprising dissolving cobalt nitrate hexahydrate and copper nitrate in de-ionized (DI) water forming a growth solution, mixing disodium thiosulfate and urea to the formed growth solution, immersing a pre-cleaned Ni-foam substrate in the growth solution forming a total solution and transferring the total solution to a sealed glass bottle. The method further comprises heating the sealed glass bottle in an oil bath, thereby forming a flower-like morphology sample of copper-cobalt oxysulfide and cleaning and drying the formed sample of copper-cobalt oxysulfide. Also disclosed is a hybrid supercapacitor (HSC) comprising copper-cobalt (Cu—Co) oxysulfide nanosheets (NFs) on Ni foam as positive electrode; and copper-cobalt (Cu—Co) oxysulfide nanosheets (NFs) on porous carbon as negative electrode.