Facile one-step synthesis of nanocomposite based on carbon nanotubes and Nickel-Aluminum layered double hydroxides with high cycling stability for supercapacitors

Nickel-Aluminum Layered Double Hydroxide (NiAl-LDH) and nanocomposite of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) and NiAl-LDH (CNTsiNiAl-LDH) were prepared by using a facile one-step homogeneous precipitation approach. The morphology, structure and electrochemical properties of the as-prepared CNTsiNiAl-LDH nanocomposite were then systematically studied. According to the galvanostatic charge-discharge curves, the CNTsiNiAl-LDH nanocomposite exhibited a high specific capacitance of 694 F g(-1) at the 1 A g(-1). Furthermore, the specific capacitance of the CNTs/NiAl-LDH nanocomposite still retained 87% when the current density was increased from 1 to 10 A g(-1). These results indicated that the CNTsiNiAl-LDH nanocomposite displayed a higher specific capacitance and rate capability than pure NiAl-LDH. And the participation of CNTs in the NiAl-LDH composite improved the electrochemical properties. Additionally, the capacitance of the CNTs/NiAl-LDH nanocomposite kept at least 92% after 3000 cycles at 20 A g(-1), suggesting that the nanocomposite exhibited excellent cycling durability. This strategy provided a facile and effective approach for the synthesis of nanocomposite based on CNTs and NiAI-LDH with enhanced supercapacitor behaviors, which can be potentially applied in energy storage conversion devices. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.