Fabrication of paper-based electrode using NiCo2O4 for solid-state supercapacitor

• Main Author: Ng, Hui Shan
• Other Authors: Kong Ling Bing
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/74740
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Flexible solid-state supercapacitor has been gaining popularity due to its endless applicability to various sectors, including biomedical and wearable electronics. There is a rising demand for improved electrochemical performance and mechanical stability of such supercapacitors even under continuous mechanical deformation. Many research focuses extensively on such improvements to be made. In this project, the objective was to develop a flexible electrode for solid state supercapacitor, which involved the use of filter paper which is porous and lightweight as the substrate for the electrode for enhanced electrochemical properties. The flexible electrode was first fabricated by the vacuum filtration of a suspension containing carbon nanofibers and Chinese ink. The conductive paper allowed the further electrodeposition of NiCo2O4 to improve its capacitance. Various methods of deposition of NiCo2O4 were explored and results were compared and analysed. The preferential method was then deposited on electroless plated nickel on filter paper to analyse the performance of the fabricated electrode. Electrochemical results obtained shows that the best results for the prepared electrodes NiCo2O4/VGCNF-ink/filter paper exhibited exceptional areal specific capacitance (2234 mFcm-2 at current density of 1mAcm-2) with cycling stability of 72.9% capacitance retention after 1500 cycles. NiCo2O4/Ni/filter paper also displayed excellent areal specific capacitance (1403.074 mFcm-2 at current density of 1mAcm-2) but with relatively poor cyclic stability of 61.8% capacitance retention after 1500 cycles. This study mainly explored the possibilities of utilising paper which is readily available as a potential substrate for flexible electrode.