Microwave engineered NiZrO3@GNP as efficient electrode material for energy storage applications

Abstract

Supercapacitors (SCs) have emerged as attractive energy storage devices due to their rapid charge/discharge rates, long cycle life, and high-power density. However, the development of innovative electrode materials to achieve high-performance remains crucial to meet future requirements in supercapacitor technology. In this work, we have explored the potential of a microwave-engineered NiZrO₃@GNP composite as a promising electrode material for SCs. A microwave assisted hydrothermal approach was adopted for the fabrication of the NiZrO₃@GNP nanocomposite. Structural and morphological investigations showed its structural richness and its chemical compositions. When applied as a SC electrode, this innovative combination exhibits battery-like behaviour with higher specific capacity (577.63 C g⁻¹) with good cyclic stability, and good performance. We have assembled an asymmetric-type two-electrode SC device and analysed its electrochemical features. This NiZrO₃@GNP device exhibits the specific capacity of 47 C g⁻¹ with capacitance retention of 70% after 2000 charge–discharge cycles. Further research on optimizing the synthesis process and exploring different device configurations could pave the way for even higher-performance supercapacitors in the future.