Fabrication and performance assessment of coin cell supercapacitors with multiwalled carbon nanotube-supported mixed metal oxide nanocomposites and redox additive electrolyte

Abstract

In the realm of supercapacitor applications, the fabrication of coin cell supercapacitors with superior performances played a crucial role. In this work, an asymmetrical type coin supercapacitor was fabricated with multiwalled carbon nanotube supported mixed metal oxide (CuO/CoO@MWCNT - CCM) nanocomposites (NCs) and potassium ferrocyanide incorporated KOH based redox additive electrolyte (RAE). The synergistic effect and the enhanced conductivity by the mixed metal oxides and MWCNT, respectively, were acted as the performance enhancer for electrode performances. On the other hand, RAE with optimized concentration provided additional redox active sites for superior performances. The combined effect of CCM NCs and RAE, were responsible for the superior performances. CCM NCs were prepared by one-pot hydrothermal technique and characterized. Working electrodes with CCM NCs were fabricated by doctor blade method and evaluated in KOH and RAE. It exhibited 1838.55 Fg⁻¹ of specific capacitance (C_sp) in RAE. Assembled asymmetrical supercapacitors with CCM NCs modified working electrode and activated carbon based anode, delivered 123.91 Fg⁻¹ of C_sp at 2.75 Ag⁻¹ in RAE. The assembled supercapacitors delivered the highest energy density of 27.53 Wh kg⁻¹ and power density of 1875 W kg⁻¹ in RAE with an impressive 82.89 % of cyclic retention after 5000 GCD cycles. Finally, an asymmetric coin cell supercapacitor (CR2302) was fabricated with CCM NCs and RAE. The fabricated coin cell delivered the charge and discharge capacities of 157.72 and 55.99 mAh g⁻¹, respectively in KOH, whereas these values were significantly improved 172.46 and 126.2 mAh g⁻¹ respectively, in RAE. It proved that the fabricated coin cell supercapacitors performed well in terms of maximum charge and discharge performances in RAE compared to conventional KOH.