Enhanced electrochemical activity of boron doped cobalt oxide nanoparticles towards supercapacitor application

Abstract

Doping via metal/nonmetal/metalloid dopants in to the crystal structural surface of cobalt oxide nanoparticles are promising for creating electroactive supercapacitors with excellent electrochemical performance. Herein, we fabricate boron doped cobalt oxide nanoparticles (B@Co₃O₄) via a facile co-precipitation route for supercapacitor applications. The incorporation of boron into cobalt oxide nanoparticles (3M B@Co₃O₄) brings a ∼4.2-fold increase in a specific surface area (548.126 m²g^-1), decrease in band gap energy and reduced in crystalline size. Consequently, the B doped Co₃O₄ NPs displays a maximum specific capacitance of 998.12 F/g, which is ∼1.50-fold increased as compared to 668.79 F/g of the pristine Co₃O₄ NPs at current density 1.5mA/cm² and scan rate 2mV/s in 1 M KOH electrolyte solution. Moreover, 3 M B@Co₃O₄ NPs demonstrates excellent power density 711.14W/kg and high energy density 195.96Wh/kg Wh/kg. Hence, we believe that boron doped cobalt oxide nanoparticles are a promising electroactive material for the supercapacitive applications.