Exploring the potential of simultaneous nanoarchitectonics and utilization of Co-MOFs electrode as well as powder for aqueous supercapacitors

The current study emphasized a leaf-like architecture of Co-MOFs electrodes on a stainless-steel mesh substrate (Co-MOFs/SSM) and Co-MOFs powder for supercapacitors (SCs), with a particular emphasis on utilizing the residual product as an electrode material instead of discarding it. Additionally, the investigation explored the impact of using a binder and binder-free electrode for SCs. The Co-MOFs powder (R-Co-MOFs) was obtained from the residual material left after synthesizing Co-MOFs/SSM using the reaction-diffusion framework method. The structural and compositional analysis confirmed the formation of both Co-MOFs/SSM and R-Co-MOFs. The morphological studies revealed an interconnected and non-interconnected leaf-like architecture for Co-MOFs/ SSM and R-Co-MOFs respectively. R-Co-MOFs were screen printed on a stainless-steel mesh substrate (R-CoMOFs/SSM) and used as an electrode material for SCs. The Co-MOFs/SSM and R-Co-MOFs/SSM exhibited maximum specific capacitance (Cs) of 534 and 269 F/g at 5 mV/s respectively. Moreover, Co-MOFs/SSM and RCo-MOFs/SSM exhibited retention rates of 62 % and 99 % after 5000th cycles, respectively. Likewise, the symmetric aqueous device, Co-MOFs/FSS//Co-MOFs/FSS achieved a maximum Cs of 85 F/g at 10 mV/s which surpassed the value of 34 F/g for R-Co-MOFs/SSM//R-Co-MOFs/SSM. It also showed higher energy density and power density values of 19.31 Wh/kg and 1333 W/kg at 4 mA compared to R-Co-MOFs/SSM//R-Co-MOFs/SSM, respectively. The Co-MOFs/SSM//Co-MOFs/SSM and R-Co-MOFs/SSM//R-Co-MOFs/SSM revealed retention rates of 72 % and 98 % after 3000th cycles respectively. This investigation provides valuable insights to researchers regarding the sustainable synthesis and utilization of Co-MOFs electrodes and powder for SCs.