Realizing high-performance and low-cost lithium-ion capacitor by regulating kinetic matching between ternary nickel cobalt phosphate microspheres anode with ultralong-life and super-rate performance and watermelon peel biomass-derived carbon cathode

The high-performance and low-cost NiCoP//WPBC-6 LIC exhibits a high ED of 127.4 ± 3.3 Wh kg −1 and large PD of 18240 W kg −1 as well as excellent cycle stability (capacity retention of 76.4% after 7000 cycles). • The NiCoP microspheres architecture is synthesized through a hard template and in situ phosphorization process. • The NiCoP microspheres anode material demonstrates prominent specific capacity and rate performance as well as outstanding cycle stability. • The watermelon-peel biomass-derived carbons (WPBCs) were purposefully synthesized and investigated as cathode material to further improve the electrochemical performance of the LICs. • The high-performance NiCoP@Co 2 P//WPBC-6 LIC device presents a high ED of 127.4 Wh kg −1 and a large PD of 18240 W kg −1 . Lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) are emerging as one of the most advanced energy storage devices by combining the virtues of both supercapacitors (SCs) and lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the kinetic and capacity mismatch between anode and cathode is the main obstacle to wide applications of LICs. Therefore, the effective strategy of constructing a high-performance LIC is to improve the rate and cycle performance of the anode and the specific capacity of the cathode. Herein, the nickel cobalt phosphate (NiCoP) microspheres anode is demonstrated with robust structural integrity, high electrical conductivity, and fast kinetic feature. Simultaneously, the watermelon-peel biomass-derived carbon (WPBC) cathode is demonstrated a sustainable synthesis strategy with high specific capacity. As expected, the NiCoP exhibits high specific capacities (567 mAh g −1 at 0.1 A g −1 ), superior rate performance (300 mAh g −1 at 1A g −1 ), and excellent cycle stability (58 mAh g −1 at 5 A g −1 after 15,000 cycles). The WPBC possesses a high specific surface area (SSA) of 3303.6 m 2 g −1 and a high specific capacity of 226 mAh g −1 at 0.1 A g −1 . Encouragingly, the NiCoP//WPBC-6 LIC device can deliver high energy density (ED) of 127.4 ± 3.3 and 67 ± 3.8Wh kg −1 at power density (PD) of 190 and 18240 W kg −1 (76.4% capacity retention after 7000 cycles), respectively.