Electrospining Machine: Small Methods by Prof Wang Huanlei, Ocean University of China: Multi-channel Hollow Carbon Electrospun Nanofbers for High Performance Zinc-Ion Hybrid Capacitors

Background

Porous carbon is the most promising cathode material for zinc-ion hybrid capacitors (ZIHC), but is limited by insufficient active adsorption sites and slow ion diffusion kinetics during charge storage.

In view of this, Professor Wang Huanlei and Professor Wu Jingyi of Ocean University of China (OUC) proposed a pore construction-pore extension strategy for the synthesis of multi-channel hollow carbon nanofibres (MCHCNF). The related research is presented as ‘Multi-Channel Hollow Carbon Nanofibers with Graphene-Like Shell-Structure and Ultrahigh Surface Area for High-Performance Zn-Ion Hybrid Capacitors’, published in Small Methods.

The main points of this paper

1. This study reports a new strategy for the preparation of multi-channel hollow carbon Electrospun Nanofbers with graphene-like shell structure for high-performance Zn ion hybrid capacitors.

2. The preparation of carbon Electrospun Nanofbers was achieved by employing a pore structure construction and pore size extension strategy, which improves the ion diffusion kinetics, increases the charge storage active sites, and exhibits excellent cycling stability.

3. It is shown that such carbon Electrospun Nanofbers have highly matched pore diameters, which help to accommodate charge carriers in Zn ion hybrid capacitors, while the graphene-like shell structure helps to promote fast electron transport in carbon Electrospun Nanofbers.

 How can aperture construction-aperture expansion strategies improve the performance of zinc-ion hybrid capacitors?

The aperture construction-aperture expansion strategy employed in this study improves the performance of zn-ion hybrid capacitors by eliminating diffusion barriers in ion diffusion kinetics, increasing the number of active sites for charge storage, and improving cycling stability.

This strategy produces multi-channel hollow carbon Electrospun Nanofbers with ultra-high surface area and graphene-like shell structure, which promotes rapid electron transport and ultimately improves the capacitor's high capacity, energy density, power density, and long cycle stability

What is the role of graphene-like shell structures in facilitating fast electron transport in carbon Electrospun Nanofbers?

The graphene-like shell structure in carbon Electrospun Nanofbers facilitates rapid electron transfer by increasing electrical conductivity. This structure provides a pathway for fast electron transfer, allowing electrons to move efficiently within the material.

The results show that graphene-like shells help to improve the charge/discharge rate and overall electrochemical performance of carbon Electrospun Nanofbers in zinc ion hybrid capacitors

Originallink: https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202300714