Vanadium-Doped Cobalt Hydroxide for Electrochromic Supercapacitors
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a continuous search for novel, low-cost, efficient, and robust electrochromic energy storage materials that exhibit both optical modulation performance and energy storage capabilities for supercapacitor applications, as existing materials lack dual characteristics of storing energy and changing color.
Innovation Solution
A process is developed to synthesize vanadium doped cobalt chloride carbonate hydroxide nanostructures (V-C3H-NSs) using cobalt chloride hexahydrate, vanadium chloride, and urea through a hydrothermal route, optimizing precursor concentrations and reaction conditions to enhance electrochromic and electrochemical performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional supercapacitor materials are used, then energy storage capability is achieved, but optical modulation performance (electrochromism) is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two distinct functionalities - energy storage (supercapacitor) and optical modulation (electrochromism) - into a single material system. By integrating vanadium doping into cobalt chloride carbonate hydroxide nanostructures, the material simultaneously exhibits both pseudocapacitive energy storage and reversible color-changing properties, eliminating the need for separate components and achieving true dual-functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material system where vanadium (V) is doped into the cobalt chloride carbonate hydroxide (C3H) matrix. This composite structure leverages the electrochromic properties of vanadium while maintaining the high capacitance characteristics of cobalt-based materials, resulting in a synergistic material that delivers both energy storage and optical modulation capabilities with enhanced performance consistency.
2Reliability
If complex synthesis processes are used to achieve optimal electrochromic and energy storage properties, then material performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes specific synthesis parameters including precursor concentrations (CoCl2·6H2O: 0.178g, VCl3: 0.040g, urea: 0.419g in 30ml water), hydrothermal treatment conditions (120°C for 12 hours), and drying temperature (60°C for 12 hours). By precisely controlling these parameters, the method achieves reproducible high-performance V-C3H-NSs with superior electrochromic and electrochemical properties while maintaining a relatively simple one-step hydrothermal synthesis route that avoids complex multi-step procedures.
3Illumination intensity
If high concentrations of metal precursors are used to enhance electrochromic activity, then optical modulation performance improves, but material cost and synthesis complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly distributing high concentrations of metal precursors throughout the entire synthesis system, the patent employs vanadium doping where VCl3 (0.040g) is strategically introduced as a dopant into the cobalt chloride carbonate hydroxide matrix. This localized approach concentrates the electrochromic-active vanadium species at specific sites within the nanostructure, maximizing optical modulation performance while minimizing the overall quantity and cost of precious metal precursors required.
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 synthesized V-C3H-NSs demonstrate superior specific capacitance and significant color-changing activity, making them suitable for electrochromic supercapacitor applications in intelligent windows, smart sunglasses, and devices for optical information and energy storage.
Implementation Method 1
The phenomenon through which a material reversibly changes its optical properties due to redox reactions is defined as electrochromism
Implementation Method 2
The phenomenon through which a material reversibly changes its optical properties due to redox reactions is defined as electrochromism
Implementation Method 3
adding the salt precursors [Cobalt (II) chloride hexahydrate (CoCl2·6H2O) and vanadium, chloride (VCl3), and urea (NH2CONH2)] in 30 ml of water and stirring the mixture for 15 minutes and sonicate for 30 minutes to obtain a reaction mixture solution
Implementation Method 4
transferred the reaction mixture solution as obtained in step (a) to a teflon-lined 50 ml stainless-steel autoclave and treated in an oven at a temperature in the range of 120° C.-160° C. for a time period in the range of 10-15 hours to result in a precipitate
Implementation Method 5
adding the salt precursors [Cobalt (II) chloride hexahydrate (CoCl2·6H2O) and vanadium, chloride (VCl3), and urea (NH2CONH2)] in 30 ml of water and stirring the mixture for 15 minutes and sonicate for 30 minutes
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention reports the development of electrochromic supercapacitor application that comprises the vanadium doped cobalt chloride carbonate hydroxide. And, more particularly, developing a process to synthesize for use as electrochromic supercapacitor application. Methods of preparing the material and use for electrochromic supercapacitor application of the invention are also described. The catalyst shows a high capacitance value of the electrochromic supercapacitor having a capacitance value of 1219 F/g in alkaline medium with an optical modulation (ΔT) value of 69% coloration efficiency value of 65 cm2c−1 at a wavelength of 600 nm. This invention provides a new vision for developing materials with dual characters, i.e., storing energy and changing its color for promising electrochromic supercapacitor applications.