Supercapacitors are guided by the same fundamentals as conventional capacitors, but utilize higher surface area electrode and very thin dielectric to achieve greater capacitances. Their energy densities are greater than those of conventional capacitors because of very less distance between the two electrodes and the capability to store large amount of charge on the highly extended surface area and power densities greater than those of batteries as they show high degree of reversibility in repetitive charge-discharge cycles. The specific pseudo-capacitance is larger than that of carbon materials using double layer charge storage justifying interest in these systems. Pseudocapacitive study of nanostructured transition metal oxides such RuO2, MnO2, NiO, Co3O4, NiCo2O4, etc. is widely done so far. High specific surface area, mechanical, structural, electronic properties and high psedocapacitance due to multiple oxidation states are the major factors that make transition metals eminent candidate for supercapacitor application. Copper is one such transition metals with two oxidation states, that is economical, environment friendly and abundantly available, hence suitable for this study. Here, we have developed high surface area flake like nanostructures of copper oxide on Cu foil by chemical etching route. It was observed that process parameter such as reaction temperature plays a vital role in controlling the morphology. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirms formation of nanostructures with large surface area that is highly favorable for charge storage. Phase purity of as prepared and heat treated samples is confirmed through X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Specific capacitance calculated from the cyclic voltammetry and charge discharge measurements is found to vary between 5-65 F/g as determined by the variation in process parameters.

Flake-like nanostructured copper oxide for pseudocapacitive energy storage

255th National Meeting (2018)

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