Fast and green synthesis of battery-type nickel-cobalt phosphate (N_xC_yP) binder-free electrode for supercapattery

Binder-free electrodes are increasingly important in energy storage technologies owing to the direct growth of active material on conducting substrates without binders, providing a shorter conduction channel for rapid electron transport. Various methods have been employed to synthesize binder-free electrodes, but most approaches often prove time-consuming, and some require elevated synthesis temperatures. Herein, a rapid and eco-friendly microwave-hydrothermal method was introduced to fabricate the battery-type nickel–cobalt phosphate (N_xC_yP) binder-free electrodes for supercapattery. The use of microwave accelerates heating and reduces the activation energy of the reaction, resulting in shorter synthesis time and lower reaction temperature. The N_xC_yP electrodes were fabricated at different parameters, such as temperature (90–200 °C), time (5–20 min), and Ni:Co precursor ratios (4:0, 3:1, 2:2, 1:3, 0:4). The optimization study was carried out via Design Expert v13 software, and the optimized parameter was the temperature of 123.5 °C, duration of 10.5 min, and Ni:Co of 2:2, namely N₂C₂P binder-free electrode. The N₂C₂P electrode exhibited larger flake- and flower-like morphologies, providing more space for electrolyte ion diffusion and a larger surface area for faradaic reactions. Consequently, it demonstrated outstanding electrochemical performance by displaying a high specific capacity (1699.7C/g at 3 mV/s), superior capacity retention, and the lowest resistances than other N_xC_yP electrodes. As a result, the N₂C₂P//AC supercapattery was created by merging it with an activated carbon (AC) electrode, showing a superior energy density (213.0 Wh/kg) and high electrochemical stability with 92.9 % retention after 3000 cycles at 10 A/g.