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Fabrication of silica-cobalt ferrite (SiO2-CoFe2O4) nanocomposites for high electrochemical performances

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Abstract

In this study, multifunctional CoFe2O4 and SiO2-CoFe2O4 nanocomposites were synthesized using a thermal decomposition method and used as an electrode material for supercapacitors. SiO2 nano matrix was synthesized from coal fly ash (Tuticorin Thermal Power Plant) and embedded with spinel metal ferrites to produce SiO2-CoFe2O4 nanocomposites with outstanding electrochemical performance. The synthesized composite materials were characterized by analytical methods. From the X-ray diffractometer, amorphous characteristics were observed for the synthesized nanocomposites. The obtained SiO2-CoFe2O4 nanocomposite showed a surface area of 756.4 m2g−1, with a large pore volume which is favorable for charge storage properties. The vibrations of metal ions and the silanol-siloxane bonds are detected using Fourier-transform infrared spectrographs. Spectroscopic and microscopic studies confirmed the formation of SiO2-CoFe2O4 nanocomposites in which the SiO2 nano matrix is encapsulated with CoFe2O4 nanocomposites. According to diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, the bandgap of SiO2-CoFe2O4 (3.3 eV) nanocomposites was found to be smaller than that of pristine SiO2 (3.8 eV) and CoFe2O4 (3.4 eV) nanoparticles, which led to a higher conductivity suitable for increased capacitance. Galvanostatic charge–discharge, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to analyze their electrochemical behavior. The specific capacitance of the composite materials was higher than that of the pristine, with SiO2-CoFe2O4 spinel metal oxide nanocomposites having a specific capacitance of 1259.4 Fg−1 at 1 A/g. In addition, the nanocomposites exhibit pseudo-capacitance with excellent cyclic stability of 89.9% capacitance retention for 5000 cycles. The power law provides a qualitative analysis of the diffusivity of the nanocomposites at the electrode/electrolyte interface. The fabricated SiO2-CoFe2O4 electrode showed a stronger reduction in the Rct value than the pristine nanocomposites. The materials have demonstrated promising potential as electrodes for energy conversion and storage.

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Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to the Department of Physics and Chemistry V.O. Chidambaram College, Tuticorin, for providing us with the lab facilities to carry out our research work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. V. O. Chidambaram College, Thoothukudi, 628 008, Tamil Nadu, India

    Infant Francita Fonseka Christopher, Amudhavalli Karuppiah & Vinoline Golda Thanapalan

  2. Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli, 627 012, Tamil Nadu, India

    Infant Francita Fonseka Christopher, Amudhavalli Karuppiah & Vinoline Golda Thanapalan

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  1. Infant Francita Fonseka Christopher
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Infant Francita Fonseka Christopher: conceptualization, methodology, writing – original draft. Amudhavalli Karuppiah: validation, investigation, review and editing, correction proof. Vinoline Golda Thanapalan: review and editing.

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Correspondence to Infant Francita Fonseka Christopher.

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Christopher, I.F.F., Karuppiah, A. & Thanapalan, V.G. Fabrication of silica-cobalt ferrite (SiO2-CoFe2O4) nanocomposites for high electrochemical performances. Ionics 29, 5055–5072 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-023-05230-5

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