Simple synthesis of novel phosphate electrode materials with unique microstructure and enhanced supercapacitive properties

Flower-like Ni3P2O8 and flower-like Fe3P2O8 center dot 8H(2)O have been successfully synthesized by a simple chemical precipitation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns reveal an amorphous phase formation of nickel phosphate (Ni3P2O8) and pure monoclinic phase of Fe3P2O8 center dot 8H(2)O. The novel flower-like Ni3P2O8 and flower-like Fe3P2O8 center dot 8H(2)O when used for supercapacitor electrode materials exhibit a high specific capacitance (C-m) of 1464 F/g and 200 F/g at a current density of 0.5 A/g, respectively. Eventually, an asymmetric supercapacitor is fabricated using Ni3P2O8 as positive electrode and Fe3P2O8 center dot 8H(2)O as negative electrode. A high specific capacitance of 94 F/g is achieved in the high-voltage region of 0 similar to 1.6V, and a large energy density of 32.6 Wh/kg is delivered at power density of 420 W/kg. The findings demonstrate the important and great potential of developing metal phosphate based materials for supercapacitors. (C) 2016 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press. All rights reserved.