Facile synthesis of cost-effective Ni3(PO4)2•8H2O microstructures as a supercapattery electrode material

In this work, hydration nickel phosphate (Ni-3(PO4)(2)center dot 8H(2)O) with sheets-assembled microstructure have been synthesized using a facile microwave-assisted method. When tested as supercapattery electrode, the 3D microstructure (N-90) shows the maximum specific capacity of up to 520.4 C g(-1) (1301 F g(-1)) at a current density of 2 A g(-1) and remains as high as 337.4 C g(-1) (843.13 F g(-1)) at 20 A g(-1). It also delivers a good cycling stability, with 83.59% of its original specific capacitance retained after 1000 cycles at 8 A g(-1). The prominent electrochemical properties will render the metal phosphate oxides as a new cost-effective and attractive active material for promising application in supercapattery. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.