The Effect of Metal Cation Doping on the Microstructure and Electrochemical Properties of Co-Fe Layered Double Hydroxide

Abstract

A hydrothermal method is employed to successfully fabricate Co-Fe LDH self-supported materials on a nickel foam substrate. Ni2+ and Mn2+ are additionally incorporated into the materials. The electrode materials are subjected to phase analysis using an X-ray diffractometer. The electrode materials are analyzed for morphology employing a scanning electron microscope. Electrochemical characteristics of the electrode materials are assessed by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests using an electrochemical workstation. The research results demonstrate that the electrode materials doped with Ni2+ and Mn2+ exhibit significantly enhanced electrochemical properties. The Ni2+-doped Co-Fe LDH exhibits a charge–discharge duration of 2200 s with a specific capacitance of 1036.4 C g−1, whereas the Mn2+-doped Co-Fe LDH shows a specific capacitance of 708.1 C g−1. Furthermore, the calculation of specific capacitance at different current densities indicates that the electrode doped with Ni2+ (71.20%) and Mn2+ (74.00%) outperform the Co-Fe LDH electrode (67.39%) in terms of rate capability.