A strategy for the synthesis of VN@C and VC@C core–shell composites with hierarchically porous structures and large specific surface areas for high performance symmetric supercapacitors

Abstract

A novel strategy for the fabrication of vanadium nitride (VN) and vanadium carbide (VC) encapsulated into amorphous carbon nanotube core-shell structured composites (denoted as VN@C and VC@C) was developed by the thermal treatment with H2V3O8@C core-shell composites under N2 and Ar atmospheres, respectively. The as-prepared VN@C and VC@C were comprised of core-shell structures with cores of crystalline VN particles and particles and shells of amorphous carbon nanotubes. There are some O elements remaining both in VN@C and VC@C. VN@C and VC@C exhibited hierarchically porous structures ranging from mesopores to macropores and high specific surface areas, which reached 222 and 164 m2 g-1, respectively. Symmetric supercapacitor (SSC) devices using VN@C and VC@C (denoted as VN@C SSC and VC@C SSC) were assembled and they showed good pseudocapacitive properties and were promising electrode materials for electrochemical capacitors. The VN@C SSC device exhibited better electrochemical performance including specific capacitance, areal energy density and cycling stability than the VC@C SSC device. The present findings revealed that VN@C and VC@C could be considered as potential materials for high-performance energy storage materials.

3D Honeycomb Nanostructure Comprised of Mesoporous N-Doped Carbon Nanosheets Encapsulating Isolated Cobalt and Vanadium Nitride Nanoparticles as a Highly Efficient Electrocatalyst for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

“…In recent years, research work has found that transition-metal nitrides (TMNs) exhibit the outstanding performance. − Vanadium nitride (VN), as a typical TMN, possesses distinctive physical/chemical properties, such as high electrical conductivity, high melting points, and excellent corrosion resistance, which is a potential candidate catalyst for ORR. − Zhao et al prepared well-defined VN hollow spheres assembled from the porous nanosheets via a template-assisted strategy, which was applied in lithium storage and ORR . Huang et al reported that a VN nanoparticle as an ORR catalyst was synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method; however, the ORR activity still needed to be enhanced …”

Asymmetric Pseudocapacitors Based on Interfacial Engineering of Vanadium Nitride Hybrids

“…Generally, to enhance the storage performance of VN, strategies such as nanostructuring [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ] and hybridization [ 22 , 23 , 24 ] have been employed. The hybridization approach involves carbon-based hybrids [ 21 , 25 , 26 ] and carbon-free hybrids [ 27 , 28 ].…”

“…Generally, to enhance the storage performance of VN, strategies such as nanostructuring [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ] and hybridization [ 22 , 23 , 24 ] have been employed. The hybridization approach involves carbon-based hybrids [ 21 , 25 , 26 ] and carbon-free hybrids [ 27 , 28 ]. For the VN-carbon-based hybrids electrodes, tremendous advancement has been realized [ 29 , 30 , 31 ], whereas carbon-free VN-based hybrids are still at their starting stage [ 32 , 33 ].…”

Fabrication of a vanadium nitride/N-doped carbon hollow nanosphere composite as an efficient electrode material for asymmetric supercapacitors

“…In addition, low-lost vanadium-based oxides have been considered as a class of outstanding pseudocapacitive materials and are widely used in energy storage in view of the rich valence states of vanadium. [30][31][32] Thus, the V 2 O 3 /C precursor is used as a positive electrode (0-0.5 V) for assembling an ASC device with VN/NCS as the negative electrode (À1.1 to 0 V). The favorable electrochemical performance of the (+) V 2 O 3 /C//VN/NCS (À) ASC device is presented.…”