Construction and Performance of ZnFe2O4//rGH Aqueous Photo-assisted Charging Supercapacitor

doi:10.15541/jim20250074

Abstract

Abstract:

Synergistic innovation of solar energy collection and storage technology provides an important direction for constructing a new type of self-supply system, in which photo-assisted charging supercapacitor has become a research hotspot due to their unique photo-induced charge storage mechanism and fast charging/discharging characteristics with high power density and fast charging/discharging characteristics, which provides an efficient, environmentally friendly, and sustainable new strategy for energy harvesting and storage in wearable electronic devices and other related products. In this work, ZnFe₂O₄ was synthesized by hydrothermal method and employed as the supercapacitor photoanode, while reduced graphene oxide hydrogel (rGH), prepared using an improved Hummers method followed by hydrothermal treatment, served as the cathode, and Zn(CF₃SO₃)₂ aqueous solution was used as the electrolyte to construct an aqueous photo-assisted charging supercapacitor. The results from the synthesized products, including phase composition, microscopic morphology, chemical structure, light absorption properties, and photoelectrochemical performance of the supercapacitor, show that under the photoelectrical synergistic charging conditions (a current density of 0.2 A·g^-1 and a light intensity of 95 mW·cm^-2), specific capacity of supercapacitor reaches 148 F·g^-1, 17% higher than that under only electric charging conditions. The capacity retention rates of the device are 80% and 90% after 10000 cycles under only electric charging and photoelectric synergistic charging, respectively. Based on all above results, the constructed aqueous photo-assisted charging supercapacitor exhibits high specific capacity and excellent cycling stability, demonstrating promising potential for applications in wearable electronics and related fields.

Key words: ZnFe₂O₄, rGH, supercapacitor, photoelectric performance

CLC Number:

O646

WANG Yu, BASSANYIN Christopher, LIU Xin, WANG Yanxiang, LI Jiake. Construction and Performance of ZnFe₂O₄//rGH Aqueous Photo-assisted Charging Supercapacitor[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2026, 41(1): 79-86.

Figures/Tables 6

Fig. 1 (a) XRD pattern and (b-e) XPS spectra of ZnFe2O4 (b) Total; (c) Zn2p; (d) Fe2p; (e) O1s

Fig. 2 (a, b) SEM images, (c, d) HRTEM images, (e) UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectrum and (f) (ahv) 1/2-hv curve of ZnFe2O4; (g) N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms and (h) PSD of rGH[18]

Fig. 3 (a, b) CV curves at different scanning rates, (c, d) capacitance contribution rates at different scanning rates under (c) electric charging and (d) photoelectric synergistic charging, and (e) schematic diagram of working principle for ZnFe2O4//rGH supercapacitor

Fig. 4 (a, b) GCD curves, (c) specific capacitance, (d) EIS spectra, (e, f) Coulombic efficiency and capacity retention rate of ZnFe2O4//rGH supercapacitor with (a, e) only electric charging and (b, f) photoelectric synergistic charging

Fig. 5 Relationship between photocharging time and photovoltage of the supercapacitor, and electrochemical performance of discharging under different conditions after photocharging (a) Relationship between photocharging time and photovoltage with inset showing PCE vs. Vt/Vm, where Vt represents voltage at photocharging time t, Vm represents maximum photocharging voltage; (b, c) GCD curves of the supercapacitor photocharged followed by discharging (b) without and (c) with illumination; (d) GCD curve of the supercapacitor photocharged up to 0.3 V followed by discharging at 14 mA·g-1. Colorful figures are available on website

Fig. 6 (a, c) Initial and (b, d) final photographs of electronic hygrometer driven by ZnFe2O4//rGH supercapacitors (a, b) without and (c, d) with illumination

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Construction and Performance of ZnFe₂O₄//rGH Aqueous Photo-assisted Charging Supercapacitor

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