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Nickel cobalt phosphide/carbon nanofibers (NiCoP/C) with an average diameter of approximate 200 nm are prepared by electrospinning combined with calcinations. Carbon nanofibers with an average pore size of 10.77 nm as conductive skeletons support the dispersed NiCoP nanoparticles with the size ranging from 20 to 80 nm, providing abundant reactive sites and facilitating the electrochemical reactions. The specific capacitance of NiCoP/C reaches 478 F g−1 at 2 A g−1 in a 3 M KOH electrolyte, showing superior electrochemical properties compared to its counterparts. After 5000 charge/discharge cycles at 10 A g−1, 99.99 % of initial specific capacitance is retained. In addition, an asymmetric supercapacitor assembled using NiCoP/C as positive electrode and activated carbon as negative electrode exhibits an energy density of 16.72 Wh kg−1 at a high-power density of 7250 W kg−1. Furthermore, the capacitance loss of the supercapacitor is only 0.04 % after 5000 cycles at 10 A g−1, which is mainly attributed to the enhanced stability of NiCoP nanoparticles owing to the assistance of carbon nanofibers as the skeleton. The synergistic effects of NiCoP nanoparticles and carbon nanofibers result in the boosted electrochemical performances. This study demonstrates the potential application of carbon nanofibers as conductive skeletons for nanostructured electrodes. • NiCoP/C nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning without the emission of PH 3. • Carbon nanofibers acted as skeletons and conductive channels for NiCoP. • Assembled NiCoP/C//AC supercapacitor achieved 16.72 Wh kg−1 at 7250 W kg−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using renewable biomass precursors to develop high-performance carbon electrodes is a promising approach for the advancement of supercapacitors. This work proposes a feasible strategy to prepare self-supporting flexible porous carbon nanofibers by electrospinning and carbonizing the mixture of cuttlefish ink, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The impacts of cuttlefish ink precursor on the structure, elemental composition, and capacitance properties of carbon nanofibers have been studied. Herein, the unique structural advantage of cuttlefish ink can significantly optimize the porous structure of carbon nanofibers. Due to the hierarchical porous structure, large specific surface area, hollow channels and high nitrogen content, the carbon nanofibers offer a high specific capacitance of 364.8 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 current density, alongside desirable rate performance and cycle life. Furthermore, the carbon nanofiber electrode performs good mechanical flexibility. The flexible solid-state supercapacitor based on this electrode exhibits 14.1 Wh kg−1 energy density at 0.4 kW kg−1 power density, and 97.8% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles. The favorable capacitive properties make this carbon nanofiber material a potential candidate for supercapacitor electrodes. [Display omitted] • Electrospun porous carbon nanofibers (CPP–CNF) were prepared from cuttlefish ink. • CPP-CNF features hierarchical pores and hollow channels. • CPP-CNF is mechanically flexible with superior capacitive performance. • The flexible supercapacitor achieves high energy density and cycling stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]