Dual tuning of 1 D heteroatoms doped porous carbon nanoarchitectures for supercapacitors: the role of balanced P/N doping and core@shell nano-networks

Abstract

Heteroatoms dual-doped carbon with three dimensional interconnected architecture is a promising candidate as electrode for high performance energy storage, but the rational design and cost-effective preparation of such materials is still a challenge. Herein, intriguing P and N co-doped porous CNT@carbon core@shell nano-networks (PN-CNTs) have been facilely achieved by a one-step carbonization process of N containing CNT@polymer with triphenylphosphine (TPP). Significantly, such interesting structure provides the synergistic effects of the 3D interconnected networks consisting of 1D core–shell structure (offering continuous pathway for electron transport), hierarchical porous texture (acting as ion-buffering reservoirs) and P and N dual-doped (optimizing the electron donor/acceptor characteristics of carbon). With the advantages of heteroatoms dual-doping effect and rational interconnected porous structure, the PN-CNTs exhibit an ultra-high specific capacitance of 332.56 F g⁻¹, much higher than N-doped carbon@carbon nanotubes (284 F g⁻¹) and CNTs (32 F g⁻¹), good rate capability and a robust cycling performance (almost no capacity fading even after 8000 cycles). The present work provides a novel passway to engineering multi-heteroatoms doped carbon with hierarchical nanoarchitectures through a facile and general route for high-performance renewable energy storage.