Synthesis of Tungsten Disulfide on B-N-Doped Carbon Nanotubes to Enhance the Electrochemical Performance of Supercapacitors

In this research, boron and nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (B-N-CNTs) were synthesized at 900°C using the FCCVD method. Carbon, nitrogen, and boron as source materials were simultaneously introduced using a batch- mode droplet reactor and ferrocene as a catalyst. B-N-CNTs were obtained with diameters ranging from 10 - 50 nm and lengths around 30 – 80 μm. These B-N-CNTs were thoroughly characterized and structurally analyzed. Subsequently, tungsten disulfide (WS2) nanosheets on B-N-CNTs were synthesized using the hydrothermal method to design a composite material and were investigated as electrodes for supercapacitors. The morphological properties of B-N-CNT@WS2 were determined by various analytical techniques such as XRD, FESEM, XPS, and EDS. B-N-CNT@WS2 was investigated as an electrode for supercapacitors in two- and three-electrode cells. In the three-electrode cell, B-N-CNT@WS2 exhibited a specific capacitance of 320 F g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1, while the two-electrode cell showed a capacitance of 41 F g−1. The symmetric supercapacitor at a current density of 5 A g−1 exhibited excellent structural stability by preserving 90% of its specific capacitance after 9000 cycles in the 1 V potential range.