2D–3D dual carbon layer confined ultrasmall VN nanoparticles for improving lithium-ion storage in hybrid capacitors

Lithium-ion capacitors(LICs) of achieving high power and energy density have garnered significant attention. However, the kinetics unbalance between anode and cathode can impede the application of LICs. Vanadium nitride(VN) with a high theoretical specific capacity(~ 1200 m Ah·g^(-1)) is a better pseudocapacitive anode to match the response of cathode in LICs. However, the insertion/extraction of Li-ions in VN's operation results in significant volume expansion. Herein, the VN/N-r GO-5composite that three-dimentional(3D) dicyandiamidederived-carbon(DDC) tightly wrapped VN quantum dots(VN QDTs) on two-dimentional(2D) reduced graphene oxid(r GO) was prepared by a facile strategy. The VN QDTs can reduce ion diffusion length and improve charge transfer kinetics. The 2D r GO as a template provides support for nanoparticle dispersion and improves electrical conductivity. The 3D DDC tightly encapsulated with VN QDTs mitigates agglomeration of VN particles as well as volume expansion. Correspondingly, the LICs with VN/Nr GO-5 composite as anode and activated carbon(AC) as cathode were fabricated, which exhibits a high energy density and power density. Such strategy provides a perspective for improving the electrochemical properties of LIC anode materials by suppressing volume expansion and enhancing conductivity.