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Simple chemical route for nanorod-like cobalt oxide films for electrochemical energy storage applications

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry volume 21, pages 2567–2576 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

We used a simple chemical synthesis route to deposit nanorod-like cobalt oxide thin films on different substrates such as stainless steel (ss), indium tin oxide (ITO), and microscopic glass slides. The morphology of the films show that the films were uniformly spread having a nanorod-like structure with the length of the nanorods shortened on ss substrates. The electrochemical properties of the films deposited at different time intervals were studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The film deposited after 20 cycles on ss gave the highest specific capacity of 67.6 mAh g−1 and volumetric capacity of 123 mAh cm−3 at a scan rate 5 mV s−1 in comparison to 62.0 mAh g−1 and 113 mAh cm−3 obtained, respectively, for its counterpart on ITO. The film electrode deposited after 20 cycles on ITO gave the best rate capability and excellent cyclability with no depreciation after 2000 charge–discharge cycles.

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Acknowledgements

The UNN group thanks the US Army Research Laboratory for the financial support given to this research (under Contract number W911NF-12-1-0588). The UNN Research Group is also grateful for the financial support given by Engr Emeka Okwuosa the MD Oilserv Group Of Companies Ltd. and for sponsoring her Nano conferences of 2014 and 2016.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nsukka, Nigeria

    Assumpta C Nwanya, Rose U. Osuji & Fabian I. Ezema

  2. INRS Centre for Energy, Materials and Telecommunications and UNESCO Chair in Materials and Technologies for Energy Conversion, Saving and Storage, 1650, Boulevard Lionel-Boulet, Varennes, QC, J3X 1S2, Canada

    Daniel Obi

  3. Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS-National Research, Cape Town, South Africa

    Rose U. Osuji, R. Bucher, Malik Maaza & Fabian I. Ezema

  4. UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences/Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa (UNISA), Muckleneuk ridge, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria, South Africa

    Malik Maaza & Fabian I. Ezema

Authors
  1. Assumpta C Nwanya
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  2. Daniel Obi
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  3. Rose U. Osuji
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  4. R. Bucher
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  5. Malik Maaza
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  6. Fabian I. Ezema
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Correspondence to Assumpta C Nwanya or Fabian I. Ezema.

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Nwanya, A.C., Obi, D., Osuji, R.U. et al. Simple chemical route for nanorod-like cobalt oxide films for electrochemical energy storage applications. J Solid State Electrochem 21, 2567–2576 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-017-3520-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-017-3520-8

Keywords

  • Cobalt oxide
  • Specific capacitance
  • Nanorod-like
  • SILAR
  • Stainless steel