A novel method of SnS2/Fe2O3 composite preparation for use as an asymmetric supercapacitor electrode material

Abstract

SnS₂ and Fe₂O₃ have attracted a lot of interest because of their superior electrochemical properties as supercapacitor electrode materials. While the low conductivity and poor cycling stability of Fe₂O₃ limit its performance, the strong electrical conductivity and decent theoretical capacity of SnS₂ make it a desirable choice as an additive for composite electrodes. Using a hydrothermal reaction and wet chemical approach, this work successfully fabricates a SnS₂/Fe₂O₃ composite for use as an electrode material in supercapacitors. In contrast to the pure SnS₂ and Fe₂O₃ electrodes, the composite SnS₂/Fe₂O₃ exhibits an expected specific capacitance of 821 F g⁻¹ in a three-electrode system. The enhanced specific capacitance of SnS₂/Fe₂O₃ was attributed to its unique surface characteristics and the synergistic interaction between the Sn⁴⁺ and Fe⁴⁺ ions. A hybrid supercapacitor was fabricated with SnS₂-based ferric oxide as the cathode and manganese oxide (MnO₂) as the anode. The performance of our fabricated supercapacitor at an elevated voltage of 1.4 V is commendable. Furthermore, a high specific capacitance of 297 F g⁻¹ and an energy density of 80.8 W kg⁻¹ are attained in a two-electrode ASC using the SnS₂/Fe₂O₃ composite electrode. Furthermore, after 6000 charge/discharge cycles, a suitable capacitive retention of 88% is also reached at 5 A g⁻¹, indicating the high feasibility of the SnS₂/Fe₂O₃ composite in supercapacitors compared to the pristine SnS₂ and Fe₂O₃ samples, which retain 78% and 50%. These findings suggest that the fabricated nanocomposite having a 1 : 1 ratio exhibits remarkable potential for supercapacitor applications.