Cobalt Single-Atom Sites for Kinetically Enhanced Rate Performance of Carbon-Based Supercapacitor Electrodes

doi:10.7503/cjcu20260201

Chem. J. Chinese Universities

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Cobalt Single-Atom Sites for Kinetically Enhanced Rate Performance of Carbon-Based Supercapacitor Electrodes

YANG Shaoqing^1,2, ZHANG Hao^2*, ZHANG Hanming³, ZHANG Wangzhi³, ZHANG Haitao^1,2*, LUO Jun^1,2*

1. University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
2. Shenzhen Institute for Advanced Study, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China 3. Oil & Gas Technology Research Institute of Qinghai Oilfield Company

Received:2026-05-13 Revised:2026-06-07 Online First:2026-06-12 Published:2026-06-12
Contact: Hao Zhang E-mail:zhanghao@uestc.edu.cn
Supported by:
Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing City, China(No.CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX1101)

1. ESM to 20260201.pdf(936KB)

Abstract

Abstract: To elucidate the influence of adjacent transition-metal single-atom sites on the energy-storage kinetics of carbon-based supercapacitor electrodes, Fe and Co single-atom-modified nitrogen-doped carbon materials, denoted as Fe@NC and Co@NC, were prepared using activated carbon as the carbon substrate via a metal–ligand coordination and carbonization strategy. Nitrogen-doped carbon without metal single-atom sites was used as the control sample. Structural characterizations reveal that NC, Fe@NC, and Co@NC possess similar carbon frameworks and porous structures, while Fe and Co species are highly dispersed and anchored in the nitrogen-doped carbon matrix, forming M–N4 coordination configurations. Electrochemical measurements show that Fe@NC and Co@NC deliver higher specific capacitances than NC, indicating that the introduction of metal single-atom sites can improve the charge-storage capability of carbon-based electrodes. Fe@NC and Co@NC exhibit comparable specific capacitances at 1 A g?1, with values of 106 and 109 F g?1, respectively. When the current density increases to 20 A g?1, Co@NC retains 55% of its capacitance, markedly higher than Fe@NC (38%), suggesting that Co single-atom sites are more favorable for improving high-rate capacitance retention. Further kinetic analyses demonstrate that Co@NC possesses a higher capacitive-controlled contribution, lower charge-transfer resistance, and more favorable ion-diffusion behavior, indicating that Co single-atom sites are more effective in facilitating rapid charge/ion transport. These results reveal that the rate-performance enhancement of carbon-based supercapacitor electrodes induced by metal single-atom sites mainly originates from optimized electrochemical kinetics, with Co single-atom sites showing greater advantages in promoting fast energy storage. This study provides mechanistic insight into the regulation of rate performance in carbon-based supercapacitor electrodes through single-atom site engineering.

Key words: Single atoms, Carbon-based electrode materials, Supercapacitor, Electrochemical kinetics, Rate capability

CLC Number:

O643

TrendMD:

YANG Shaoqing, ZHANG Hao, ZHANG Hanming, ZHANG Wangzhi, ZHANG Haitao, LUO Jun. Cobalt Single-Atom Sites for Kinetically Enhanced Rate Performance of Carbon-Based Supercapacitor Electrodes[J]. Chem. J. Chinese Universities, doi: 10.7503/cjcu20260201.

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Cobalt Single-Atom Sites for Kinetically Enhanced Rate Performance of Carbon-Based Supercapacitor Electrodes

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