The attapulgite@carbon/NiCo layered double hydroxide
nanocomposites
based on waste adsorbents are manufactured via simple and eco-friendly
calcination and hydrothermal methods, by which they would be considerable
electrode materials for advanced supercapacitors. To achieve sustainable
development, the spent tetracycline-loaded attapulgite can act as
a cost-effective available carbon source as well as a matrix material
for carbon species and NiCo layered double hydroxide simultaneously.
A controlled amount of attapulgite@carbon could be used to regulate
the electrochemical properties of nanocomposites. The generated electrodes
possess superior electrochemical properties with a specific capacitance
of 2013.8 F g–1 at 0.5 A g–1,
a retention rate of 87.7% at 5 A g–1, and a cyclic
stability of 64.9% for 4000 cycles at 5 A g–1. Thus,
the asymmetric supercapacitor device assembled with attapulgite@carbon/NiCo
layered double hydroxide nanocomposites||active carbon shows a maximum
capacitance of 231.3 F g–1 at 0.5 A g–1, with a preeminent energy density of 82.2 Wh kg–1 when its power density is 4318 W kg–1. This approach
would contribute to the development of supercapacitors in an efficient
and effective manner, as well as provide a feasible strategy for solving
tetracycline pollution and recycling waste adsorbents to achieve sustainable
development.