Cu2O@CNTs Nanocomposite Electrodes for Next-Generation Photo-Assisted Supercapacitors

Abstract

The Cu2O@CNTs composite was rationally designed and synthesized via a hydrothermal method for use as a photoactive electrode in photoassisted supercapacitors. The hydrothermal process was chosen as it offers a straightforward and economical way to obtain highly crystalline materials with uniform particle size and distribution, and controlled morphology. Furthermore, the high-temperature and high-pressure conditions enable the homogeneous growth of Cu2O nanospheres on the CNT surface, providing good structural stability between Cu2O and the CNT. The incorporation of Cu2O and the conductive CNT network has enabled the effective alleviation of Cu2O’s intrinsic properties, namely, its poor electrical conductivity and structural instability. The constructed Cu2O@CNTs structure significantly increases light harvesting and charge-transfer kinetics, reduces charge-transfer resistance, and exhibits a remarkable 23.68% increase in photoinduced capacitance upon illumination. The results indicate that the designed concept is effective and reveal that Cu2O@CNTs is a potential electrode material for the next generation of photoassisted energy-storage devices.