Template-free synthesis of novel Co3O4 micro-bundles assembled with flakes for high-performance hybrid supercapacitors

In this paper, a novel Co₃O₄ micro-bundles structure (Co₃O₄ MBs) was obtained at 120 °C after a hydrothermal reaction for 24 h and followed by an annealing treatment at 300 °C in air. The unique Co₃O₄ MBs are constructed by many adjacent flakes with 0.4 μm in thickness, and exhibit a large surface area of 81.2 m² g^?1 and a mean pore diameter of 6.14 nm, which may facilitate a sufficient contact with electrolyte and then shorten the diffusion pathway of ions. A remarkable electrochemical behavior including specific capacity of 282.3 C g^?1 at 1 A g^?1 and 205.9 C g^?1 at 10 A g^?1, and an excellent cycling performance with 74.6% capacity retention after 4000 charge-discharge process at 5 A g^?1 are achieved when the test of Co₃O₄ MBs-modified electrode is performed using three-electrode configuration. Additionally, a hybrid supercapacitor (HSC) was fabricated with the obtained Co₃O₄ MBs as positive electrode and commercial activated carbon (AC) as negative electrode. The HSC exhibits a specific capacity of 144.1 C g^?1 at 1 A g^?1 and 126.4% capacity retention after 5000 cycles at 5 A g^?1. An energy density of 38.5 W h kg^?1 can be obtained at a power density of 962.0 W kg^?1, and 29.5 W h kg^?1 is still retained at 8532.5 W kg^?1. The simple synthetic strategy can be applicable to the synthesis of other transition metal oxides with superior electrochemical performance.