Hierarchical, porous CuS microspheres integrated with carbon nanotubes for high-performance supercapacitors.

ABSTRACT: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) incorporated porous 3-dimensional (3D) CuS microspheres have been successfully synthesized via a simple refluxing method assisted by PVP. The composites are composed of flower-shaped CuS secondary microspheres, which in turn are assembled with primary nanosheets of 15-30?nm in thickness and fully integrated with CNT. The composites possess a large specific surface area of 189.6?m(2) g(-1) and a high conductivity of 0.471?S cm(-1). As electrode materials for supercapacitors, the nanocomposites show excellent cyclability and rate capability and deliver an average reversible capacitance as high as 1960?F g(-1) at a current density of 10?mA cm(-2) over 10000 cycles. The high electrochemical performance can be attributed to the synergistic effect of CNTs and the unique microstructure of CuS. The CNTs serve as not only a conductive agent to accelerate the transfer of electrons in the composites, but also as a buffer matrix to restrain the volume change and stabilize the electrode structure during the charge/discharge process. The porous structure of CuS also helps to stabilize the electrode structure and facilitates the transport for electrons.

SUBMITTER: Lu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4645118 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature