The fabrication of flexible wearable electrodes based on a carbon nanotubes/nickel/nickelous hydroxide ternary composite by facile single-side printing technology

A new material design strategy is developed to prepare high-performance flexible electrochemical electrodes. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and nickel/nickelous hydroxide (Ni/Ni(OH)(2)) are compounded through a chemical plating method and hydrothermal process. A single-side printing method is used to combine the active material and a flexible cotton substrate. The interfinger microstructure of the textile electrode can greatly facilitate charge/ion transfer at the electrode-electrolyte interface. One side of the fabric, which is untreated, could directly contact with human skin, providing a comfortable and user-friendly surface. With the CNTs/Ni/Ni(OH)(2) ternary composite as a positive electrode and CNTs as a negative electrode, we assembled an in-plane asymmetrical micro-supercapacitor device (SF-NPCs). Thanks to a synergistic effect, SF-NPCs displays a high energy density of 0.29 W h cm(-2) at a power density of 7.2 W cm(-2). The operating window is extended to 1.5 V, and the device displays good potential for applications in the field of smart textiles.

Automated summary

A new material design strategy involving carbon nanotubes and nickel/nickelous hydroxide was utilized to prepare high-performance flexible electrochemical electrodes. The resulting textile electrode exhibited excellent charge/ion transfer properties and user-friendly surface, allowing for the assembly of an asymmetrical micro-supercapacitor device with high energy density at a relatively high power density, extending the operating window to 1.5 V and showing great potential for smart textile applications.