In this work, a new 3D metal–organic framework
(MOF) {[Co3(μ4-tpa)3(μ-dapz)(DMF)2]·2DMF}
n
(Co(II)-TMU-63;
H2tpa = terephthalic acid, dapz = pyrazine-2,5-diamine,
DMF = dimethylformamide) containing low-cost and readily available
ligands was generated, fully characterized, and used as an electrode
material in supercapacitors without the need for a calcination process.
Thus, the synthesis of this material represents an economical and
cost-effective method in the energy field. The crystal structure of
Co(II)-TMU-63 is assembled from two types of organic building blocks
(μ4-tpa2– and μ-dapz ligands),
which arrange the cobalt nodes into a complex layer-pillared net with
an unreported 4,4,4,6T14 topology. The presence of open sites in this
MOF is promising for studying electrochemical activity and other types
of applications. In fact, Co(II)-TMU-63 as a novel electrode material
when comparing with pristine MOFs shows great cycling stability, large
capacity, and high energy density and so acts as an excellent supercapacitor
(384 F g–1 at 6 A g–1). In addition,
there was a stable cycling performance (90% capacitance) following
6000 cycles at 12 A g–1 current density. Also, the
Co(II)-TMU-63//activated carbon (AC) asymmetric supercapacitor acted
in a broad potential window of 1.7 V (0–1.7 V), exhibiting
a high performance with 4.42 kW kg–1 power density
(PD) and 24.13 Whkg–1 energy density (ED). These
results show that the pristine MOFs have great potential toward improving
different high-performance electrochemical energy storage devices,
without requiring the pyrolysis or calcination stages. Hence, such
materials are very promising for future advancement of the energy
field.