In situ hydrogenation of molybdenum oxide nanowires for enhanced supercapacitors

Abstract

In situ hydrogenation of orthorhombic molybdenum trioxide (alpha-MoO3) nanowires has been achieved on a large scale by introducing alcohol during the hydrothermal synthesis for electrochemical energy storage supercapacitor devices. The hydrogenated molybdenum trioxide (HxMoO3) nanowires yield a specific capacitance of 168 F g(-1) at 0.5 A g(-1) and maintain 108 F g(-1) at 10 A g(-1), which is 36-fold higher than the capacitance obtained from pristine MoO3 nanowires at the same conditions. The electrochemical devices made with HxMoO3 nanowires exhibit excellent cycling stability by retaining 97% of their capacitance after 3000 cycles due to an enhanced electronic conductivity and increased density of hydroxyl groups on the surface of the MoO3 nanowires.