title: Shape-Controlled Synthesis of NiCo2 O4 Microstructures and Their Application in Supercapacitors.
abstract: The shape-controlled synthesis of NiCo2 O4 microstructures through a facile hydrothermal method and subsequent calcinations was explored. By employing CoSO4 , NiSO4 , and urea as the starting reactants, flower-like NiCo2 O4 microstructures were obtained at 100 °C after 5 h without the assistance of any additive and subsequent calcination at 300 °C for 2 h; dumbbell-like NiCo2 O4 microstructures were prepared at 150 °C after 5 h in the presence of trisodium citrate and subsequent calcination at 300 °C for 2 h. The as-prepared NiCo2 O4 microstructures were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and (high-resolution) transmission electron microscopy. Both the flower-like and dumbbell-like NiCo2 O4 microstructures could be used as electrode materials for supercapacitors, and they exhibited excellent electrochemical performance, including high specific capacitance, good rate capability, and excellent long-term cycle stability. Simultaneously, the shape-dependent electrochemical properties of the product were investigated.
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Solids, Ministry of Education, Anhui Laboratory of Molecule-Based Materials, Anhui Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Solids, Anhui Normal University, 1 Beijing Eastern Road, Wuhu, 241000, PR China.
authors.forename: Nannan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Solids, Ministry of Education, Anhui Laboratory of Molecule-Based Materials, Anhui Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Solids, Anhui Normal University, 1 Beijing Eastern Road, Wuhu, 241000, PR China. niyh@mail.ahnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yonghong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.affiliation: Centres of Modern Analyses, Nanjing University, 23 Hankou Road, Nanjing, 210093, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
keywords: charge transfer; electrochemistry; microstructures; shape-controlled synthesis; supercapacitors