Fabrication of TiO<sub>2</sub>-Nanotube-Array-Based Supercapacitors

oleh: Faheem Ahmed, Syed A. Pervez, Abdullah Aljaafari, Adil Alshoaibi, Hatem Abuhimd, JooHyeon Oh, Bon Heun Koo

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2019-10-01

Deskripsi

In this work, a simple and cost-effective electrochemical anodization technique was adopted to rapidly grow TiO<sub>2</sub> nanotube arrays on a Ti current collector and to utilize the synthesized materials as potential electrodes for supercapacitors. To accelerate the growth of the TiO<sub>2</sub> nanotube arrays, lactic acid was used as an electrolyte additive. The as-prepared TiO<sub>2</sub> nanotube arrays with a high aspect ratio were strongly adhered to the Ti substrate. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results confirmed that the TiO<sub>2</sub> nanotube arrays were crystallized in the anatase phase. TEM images confirmed the nanotublar-like morphology of the TiO<sub>2</sub> nanotubes, which had a tube length and a diameter of ~16 and ~80 nm, respectively. The electrochemical performance of the TiO<sub>2</sub> nanotube array electrodes was evaluated using the cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD) measurements. Excellent electrochemical response was observed for the electrodes based on the TiO<sub>2</sub> nanotube arrays, as the cells delivered a high specific capacitance of 5.12 mF/cm<sup>2</sup> at a scan rate of 100 mV/s and a current density of 100 &#181;A/cm<sup>2</sup>. The initial capacity was maintained for more than 250 cycles. Further, a remarkable rate capability response was observed, as the cell retained 88% of the initial areal capacitance when the scan rate was increased from 10 to 500 mV/s. The results suggest the suitability of TiO<sub>2</sub> nanotube arrays as electrode materials for commercial supercapacitor applications.