Bi-interlayer Strategy for Modulating NiCoP-based Heterostructure toward High-performance Aqueous Energy Storage Devices.

Nickel-cobalt (NiCo) phosphides (NCPs) possess high electrochemical activity, which makes them promising candidates for electrode materials in aqueous energy storage devices, such as supercapacitors and zinc batteries. However, the actual specific capacitance and rate capability of NCPs require further improvement, which can be achieved through reasonable heterostructural design and loading conditions of active materials on substrates. Herein, novel hierarchical Bi-NCP heterogeneous structures with built-in electric fields consisting of bismuth (Bi) interlayers (electrodeposited on carbon cloth (CC)) were designed and fabricated to ensure the formation of uniform high-load layered active materials for efficient charge and ion transport. The resulting CC/Bi-NCP electrodes showed a uniform, continuous, and high mass loading (>3.5 mg) with a superior capacitance reaching 1200 F⋅g-1 at 1 A⋅g-1 and 4129 mF⋅cm-2 at 1 mA⋅cm-2 combined with high-rate capability and durable cyclic stability. Moreover, assembled hybrid supercapacitors, supercapatteries, and alkaline zinc batteries constructed using these electrodes delivered high energy densities of 64.4, 81.8, and 319.1 Wh·kg-1, respectively. Overall, the constructed NCPs with excellent aqueous energy storage performance are potential for the development of novel transition metal-based heterostructure electrodes for advanced energy devices. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.