Binder-free electrode materials offer
high active material mass
loading and usage rate, excellent connectivity between active materials
and current collectors, and efficient electron and ion transport inside
the electrodes. Herein, we demonstrate a binder-free in situ synthesis of microstructures of CuCo2O4/CuO
composites grown on the Ni foam (CCO/NF) by wet chemical methods.
Two different morphologies of microspheres (CCO/NF-IPA) and cross-linked
microsheets (CCO/NF-DIW) result from solvents of isopropyl alcohol
and deionized water, respectively. Using X-ray techniques, the nonstoichiometry
of Cu, Co, and O in composites is measured. In the backdrop of the
supercapacitor application, even though both electrodes have consistent
electrochemical performance, the Co-excess of the CCO/NF-IPA composite
has a higher specific capacity (369.6 C g–1 at 1
A g–1) and an extended cyclic performance (98% retention
after 5000 cycles) compared to the other. The all-solid-state CCO/NF-IPA//activated
carbon (AC) asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) device with a full operating
potential window of 0–1.5 V has exhibited a high specific capacity
of 162.6 C g–1 at 1 A g–1. The
ASC device retains its initial capacity of 97% over 5000 cycles and
renders a notable energy density of 43.7 Wh kg–1 at 752.4 W kg–1 power density.