Researchers from the Physics and Engineering Research Center of the Province of Buenos Aires (CIFICEN) have made significant strides in energy storage technology by developing sustainable hybrid supercapacitors. Their findings, published in the journal Frontiers of Chemical Science & Engineering, detail the creation of these supercapacitors using a cobalt ferrite-carbon composite.
The study highlights the increasing demand for efficient energy storage solutions, which has led to the exploration of supercapacitors. Recent efforts have concentrated on constructing hybrid supercapacitors and fabricating electrode materials through environmentally friendly and scalable techniques. The cobalt ferrite used in this research was synthesized via a co-precipitation method followed by thermal treatment, resulting in a mesoporous composite with a specific surface area of 41.195 m²/g.
Interestingly, the addition of carbon does not alter the structural integrity of the cobalt ferrite but rather enhances its electrochemical characteristics. The electrochemical analysis conducted in a three-electrode cell showcased a remarkable maximum specific capacitance of 548.1 F/g at a current density of 14.5 A/g.
Furthermore, the researchers combined the cobalt ferrite-carbon composite with sustainable activated carbon in various ratios to create solid-state hybrid supercapacitors. The highest recorded specific capacitance was 69.8 F/g, alongside an energy density of 27.9 Wh/kg, achieved with a symmetric device operating at 1.2 V, which delivered a specific power of 94 W/kg.
These promising results indicate the potential for developing hybrid supercapacitors based on the CoFe2O4-C composite, produced through a straightforward, low-cost, and environmentally sustainable method. For those interested in the comprehensive details of the study, the full paper is accessible through the provided journal link.
