Non-modulated synthesis of cobalt-doped MoS2 for improved supercapacitor performance

A facile hydrothermal technique was employed to synthesized non-modulated cobalt-doped molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) nanoflowers. The as-prepared materials were coated on commercially available Ni-foam to fabricate electrode materials for supercapacitor applications. The elucidation of the structural information, surface morphology, microstructural properties, as well as surface areas was successfully carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) measurements, respectively. XRD and Raman analysis confirmed the structural changes of the materials, which depict a successful synthesis of cobalt-doped MoS2 with typical phase change and the red-shifted peaks of Raman spectra compared to pristine MoS2. The flower-like morphology and agglomerating nanosheets of various nanometer diameters of the microstructural properties of the obtained Co-MoS2 were established from SEM and TEM images. The surface areas of the CMS1 and CMS3 electrode materials were, respectively, calculated to be 18.0607 and 14.5519 mg(-2) from BET surface analysis. The electrode materials were electrochemically evaluated for their energy storage performance, the materials exhibit specific capacitances of 164 and 146 Fg(-1) at 1 Ag-1 for the working electrodes (CMS1 and CMS3), respectively. Also, the energy densities of 3.67 and 2.05 Wh/kg with power densities of 3279.97 and 2960.26 W/kg were calculated for both electrode materials, respectively. The results illustrate that the Co-MoS2 can be suitable for an effective electrode material for prospective supercapacitor applications. NOVELTY STATEMENT Non-modulated Co-MoS2 was synthesized via facile hydrothermal techniques. It was established that any concentration of Cobalt higher than 3 moles might reduce the performance of the nanocomposite. The highest specific capacitance recorded for the electrodes was 164 F/g at 1 A/g. The electrode materials were established to be a potential material for supercapacitor applications.