Uniquely Designed Tungsten Oxide Nanopetal Decorated Electropsun PAN Nanofiber for a Flexible Supercapacitor with Ultrahigh Rate Capability and Cyclability

Abstract

A supercapacitor electrode material with unique morphology, i.e., tungsten oxide nanopetal decorated electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers, was synthesized. In this study, a polymeric solution of PAN was electrospun to form uniform high aspect ratio cross-linked nanofibers with diameter ∼400−500 nm that were further decorated with tungsten oxide nanopetals with a particle size around 30−40 nm through a hydrothermal treatment. The supercapacitor device fabricated using the as-synthesized material (W-PAN) coated carbon cloth as the working electrode exhibited a very high specific capacitance of 1107 F g −1 at a scan rate of 1 mV s −1 . It was capable of performing with 100% capacitance retention at least up to 1000 cycles at a very high current density of 40 A g −1 , suggesting ultrahigh rate capability and cyclability of the crafted electrode. Moreover, the charge storage mechanism was investigated which provided intriguing insights about the capacity contribution from tungsten oxide and PAN fibers to the overall capacitance. The W-PAN sample was capable of delivering a maximum energy density (E d ) of 33.33 W h kg −1 at a power density (P d ) of 2317 W kg −1 in half-cell configuration. The symmetric device fabricated using the composites, besides possessing an optimal voltage of 1.1 V, was also capable of delivering an energy density value of 641.66 mW h kg −1 at a power density of 16.47 W kg −1 . The device also exhibits excellent cycle stability with a capacitance retention of 100% even after 2000 cycles. The physiochemical characterizations imparted comprehensive insight toward the interaction between the functional moieties present on the PAN fibrous matrix with tungsten oxide.

Nanotechnology in Advanced 2D and 3D Nanostructured Transition Metal Oxide Based Flexible Supercapacitors: A Review

“…[209] Compared to other tungsten oxide crystal structures, WO 3 is the most preferred one for SCs applications. The integration of WO 3 with carbon materials such as carbon nanofibers (WO 3 /CNFs), [210] polymer-based (WO 3 /PAN) nanofibers [211] and using silver nanowires (AgNWs) as substrates (AgNWs/WO 3 ) [212] exhibited excellent FSCs, which demonstrated their potential applications for flexible and smart energy storage device.…”

Fabrication of Activated Multiporous Carbon Nanofibers Using Vacuum Plasma for High-Capacity Energy Storage

“…In addition, the electrospinning method is environmentally friendly and offers a simple principle of operation as well as production flexibility and cost reduction [11]. Among the electrospinning 1D materials, carbon nanofibers are not only easily manufactured in large quantities, but are also widely used as supercapacitor electrode materials due to their physical adsorption/desorption operation mechanism [12][13][14]. Many polymers are used as precursors for synthesizing carbon nanofibers using electrospinning, such as polyimide, cellulose, polyacrylonitrile (PAN), etc.…”

Boosting the Electrochemical Detection Response Toward Hydroxychloroquine via Tungsten Trioxide Nanorods/Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanofiber Nanocomposite

“…51 In an attempt to address this issue, carbonaceous support matrices such as carbon nanofibers (CNFs) with a graphitic crystal structure are employed. 52 High conductivity, chemical stability, controllable porosity, and short ion diffusion length of CNFs can aid in overcoming the limitations associated with WO 3 . 53,54 By virtue of the unique and efficient 3D membrane architecture, CNFs provide a high-surface-area platform for electrochemical sensing.…”

“…WO 3 is a readily available n-type semiconducting metal oxide characterized by high chemical and thermal stability and is often utilized as a potential electrode material. − In addition, it offers high electron transport ability, moderate hole diffusion length, superior redox reaction capability, and a band gap of 2.6–3.4 eV. − Monoclinic WO 3 (m-WO 3 ) comprising WO 6 octahedrons has caught the attention of researchers due to its stability over other WO 3 phases. , In light of these promising properties, WO 3 has been explored as a potential material for electrochemical applications. − Nevertheless, the poor electrical conductivity of n-type semiconductors limits the use of WO 3 in electrochemical sensing . In an attempt to address this issue, carbonaceous support matrices such as carbon nanofibers (CNFs) with a graphitic crystal structure are employed . High conductivity, chemical stability, controllable porosity, and short ion diffusion length of CNFs can aid in overcoming the limitations associated with WO 3 . , By virtue of the unique and efficient 3D membrane architecture, CNFs provide a high-surface-area platform for electrochemical sensing.…”