Spongy structured α-Ni(OH)2: Facile and rapid synthesis for supercapattery applications

Spongy-like alpha-Ni(OH)(2) was rapidly prepared through microwave irradiation method. The spongy structure was identified to be of interspersed nanorods (2.5 nm thickness). Moreover, its mesoporus nature has made the alpha-Ni(OH)(2) as an efficient electrode by revealing a specific capacity of 439 C g(1) at a specific current of 2 A g(1). Further, the alpha-Ni(OH)(2)//AC (activated carbon) supercapattery cell has been fabricated using polyurethane foam as separator. A specific capacitance of 246 F g(1) (2 A g(1)) was estimated with the specific energy of 49 W h kg(1) and specific power of 696 W kg(1). The studied supercapattery cell could retain 87 % of capacity even after 2000 continuous charge-discharge cycles. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.