Enhancing electrochemical performance of ultrasmall Fe_(2)O_(3)-embedded carbon nanotubes via combusting-induced high-valence dopants

摘要

Doping is a reasonable solution to improve the electronic structure and surface properties of nanomaterials.Herein,we propose a rapid and simple methodology,flame synthesis,as an effective preparation strategy for incorporating high-valence metal ions(Ti^(4+),Sn^(4+),and Zr^(4+))into ultrasmall Fe_(2)O_(3)on carbon nanotube support(i.e.,M-FeO-CNT).The resulting materials exhibit not only a boosted Na+adsorption as shown by density functional theory(DFT)calculations,but also display an increased oxygen deficiency.The electrochemical activity and charge transfer efficiency of Fe 2 O 3 can be improved by reasonably sub-stituting Fe 3+with Ti^(4+),Sn^(4+),and Zr^(4+).The electrochemical investigation of Ti-doped Fe 2 O 3(Ti-FeO-CNT)electrode demonstrates a splendid specific capacitance of 1.25 F cm^(−2)at 1 mA cm^(−2)in 1 M Na_(2)SO_(4).This is significantly higher as compared to the capacitance of 0.48 F cm^(−2).Flexible solid-state asymmetric su-percapacitor Ti-FeO-CNT//MnO_(2)is verified with operating voltage of 2.0 V and stability over 3000 cycles,and delivers a high energy density of 2.14 mWh cm^(−3)at power density of 25 mW cm−3.The flame synthesis is expected to be widely applicable for the preparation of high-valence metal ions doped nanosized Fe_(2)O_(3)functionalized materials,thus opening up new avenues for energy and catalysis research.