Chestnut shell-like N-doped carbon coated NiCoP hollow microspheres for hybrid supercapacitors with excellent electrochemical performance

In this work, transition metal phosphides (TMPs) were reinforced by a solvothermal synthesis method and in situ polymerization in dopamine with one-step phosphating and carbonizing process to form chestnut shell-like N-doped carbon coated NiCoP (NiCoP@N-C) hollow microspheres. Excellent morphologic structure is still reflected in NiCoP@N-C, which is suitable for rapid electron and electrolyte transfer. Benefiting from the excellent structure, the coating of N-doped carbon, and the synergistic effect of Ni and Co, NiCoP@N-C reveals excellent electrochemical properties (high specific capacitance of 1660 F center dot g(-1) (830 C center dot g(-1))at 1 A center dot g(-1)). In addition, a NiCoP@N-C//carbonization HKUST-1 (HC) achieves high specific energy of 51.8 Wh center dot kg(-1), ultrahigh specific power of 21.63 kW center dot kg(-1), and excellent cycling stability up to 10000 cycles (a capacitance retention of 96.7%). The results show that the NiCoP@N-C electrode material has a wide application in supercapacitors and other energy storage devices.