New insight on nanostructure assembling of high-performance electrode materials: synthesis of surface-modified hexagonal β-Ni(OH)2 nanosheets as an example

Hexagonal beta-Ni(OH)(2) nanosheets with thickness of similar to 12 nm were synthesized by a hydrothermal method at 150 A degrees C using nickel chloride as nickel source and morpholine as alkaline. Electrodes for application in pseudocapacitor were assembled through a traditional technique: pressing a mixture of beta-Ni(OH)(2) nanosheets and acetylene black onto nickel foam. Due to the hexagonal shape of rigid beta-Ni(OH)(2) nanosheet and the mediation of surface-modified glycerol during electrochemical charge-discharge cycles, a nanostructure of electrode material with facile interior pathway for the transfer of electrolyte was formed. As a result, the as-formed electrodes presented high specific capacitance of 1,917 F g(-1) at current density of 1.6 A g(-1) in 3 mol L-1 KOH solution. At high charge and discharge current density of 31.3 A g(-1), the electrodes still remained a high specific capacitance of 1,289 F g(-1). The interesting results obtained from this investigation may provide a new insight for the synthesis of electrode materials with high electrochemical performance.