Preparation of NiFe2O4@ slit modified hollow carbon fiber via electrospinning for supercapacitor electrode material

Nickel ferrite owns a lot of advantages as electrode materials for supercapacitor, such as high energy density and excellent theoretical capacity. Whereas, the electrochemical performances of NiFe2O4 in terms of rate performance and cycle stability are not satisfactory due to the low conductivity. While carbon fiber is a kind of material with high conductivity. Hence, NiFe2O4@ slit modified hollow carbon fiber is obtained through the coaxial electrospinning method. The slits on hollow carbon fibers are beneficial to the contact of inner NiFe2O4 nanoparticles with electrolyte. Results of electrochemical tests show that at a current density of 1 A/g, the specific capacitance of NiFe2O4@ slit modified hollow carbon fiber is calculated to be 225.4 F/g, higher than that of NiFe2O4 nanoparticles of 134.8 F/g. Moreover, a better cycle and rate performances (100 % vs 80 %; 71.9 % vs 47.5 %) are achieved. This work displays that slit modified hollow carbon fiber can improve the electrochemical performance of NiFe2O4 efficiently.