Detergent-free micelle-assisted synthesis of carbon-containing hexagonal CuS nanostructures for efficient supercapacitor electrode materials

• Published in: Electrochimica acta Vol. 407; p. 139918
• Main Authors: Attia, Sayed Y., Mohamed, Saad G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Carbon; Carbon disulfide; Copper (II) hexafluoroacetylacetonate; Copper sulfides; Electrochemical analysis; Electrode materials; Electrodes; Ethylene glycol; Fluorine; Hexagonal CuS; Micelles; Morphology control; Nanostructure; Spherical shells; Supercapacitors; Supercapacitors; Copper (II) hexafluoroacetylacetonate; Hexagonal CuS; Morphology control; Micelles
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2022.139918

•The carbon-containing hexagonal CuS is synthesized through a single-step solvothermal method.•Copper (II) hexafluoroacetylacetonate was used as the copper source and worked as a detergent-free micelle-forming substance.•A spherical-like shell assembly of hexagonal carbon-containing CuS is obtained.•Carbon and fluorine successfully anchored the hexagonal CuS structures inside bundles of spheres.•This unique construction can efficiently boost the electrochemical performance of this material for the applications of supercapacitors.
This work developed a novel approach to control the nanostructure morphology of carbon-containing hexagonal CuS using a single-step solvothermal process. Herein, copper II hexafluoroacetylacetonate served as the copper source and played an efficient role as a detergent-free micelle-forming substance in the presence of two immiscible liquids (ethylene glycol and carbon disulfide). The latter form of which assisted spherical-like shell assembly of hexagonal carbon-containing CuS. Physical characterization indicated successful carbon and fluorine doping of the hexagonal CuS structures inside bundles of spheres. This innovative construction can efficiently boost the electrochemical properties of the as-prepared material for supercapacitor applications. The prepared electrode exhibited a superior specific capacitance/capacity of 1123 F g−1 (561.5 C g−1) at 1 A g−1 and outstanding cycling stability. The assembled hybrid device displayed remarkable specific energy of 40 W h kg−1 and a maximum specific power of 8.02 kW kg−1. These results indicate the potential of this material as a promising electrode for highly efficient supercapacitors.
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