A Ten-Minute Synthesis of α-Ni(OH)2 Nanoflakes Assisted by Microwave on Flexible Stainless-Steel for Energy Storage Devices

Abstract

Although numerous methods have been widely used to prepare nickel hydroxide materials, there is still a demand for lowering the required heating time, temperature, and cost with maintaining a high-quality nanomaterial for electrochemical energy storage. In this research, we study the relationship between microwave-assisted heating parameters and material properties of nickel hydroxide nanoflakes and evaluate their effect on electrochemical performance. X-ray diffraction spectra show that the samples prepared at the highest temperature of 220 °C have crystallized in the beta phase of nickel hydroxide crystal. While the sample synthesized at 150 °C in 30 min contains both beta and alpha phases. Interestingly, we obtained the pure alpha phase at 150 °C in just 10 min. A scanning electron microscope shows that increasing the temperature and heating time leads to enlarging the diameter of the macro-porous flower-like clusters of interconnected nanoflakes. Electrochemical measurements in potassium hydroxide electrolytes demonstrate that the alpha phase’s electrodes have much higher capacities than samples containing only the beta phase. The maximum areal capacity of 17.7 µAh/cm2 and gravimetric capacity of 35.4 mAh/g are achieved, respectively, at 0.2 mA/cm2 and 0.4 A/g, with a small equivalent series resistance value of 0.887 ohms on flexible stainless-steel mesh as a current collector. These improved nickel hydroxide electrodes can be ascribed to utilizing the diffusion-controlled redox reactions that are detected up to the high scan of 100 mV/s. Such fast charge-discharge processes expand the range of potential applications. Our nickel hydroxide electrode, with its rapid preparation at medium temperature, can be a cost-effective candidate for flexible supercapacitors and batteries.