Supramolecular polymers with dual energy storage mechanism for high-performance supercapacitors.

[Display omitted] • Coordination of four metal ions with the chelator APP and functionalized carbon nanotubes leads to supramolecular polymers as electrode material. • MWCNT-APP-Fe integrates the functions of each component in supramolecular polymer. • Dual energy storage mechanism boosters the high capacity and rate capability for MWCNT-APP-Fe-based supercapacitor. In this paper, we prepared the supramolecular polymers (MWCNT-APP-s) with a dual energy storage mechanism as the electrode materials by the coordination of four transition metal ions with the small molecule chelator (APP) and functionalized carbon nanotubes, respectively. Among four MWCNT-APP-s, MWCNT-APP-Fe has the characteristics of moderate micropore/mesopore, significant hydrophobicity, redox property and functional groups. Interestingly, the redox reaction of Fe3+/Fe2+ and -C N-/-C N- transformation give MWCNT-APP-Fe an energy storage basis of pseudocapacitance, while MWCNTs and the micro/mesopore structure in MWCNT-APP-Fe provide a double-layer energy storage platform. As expected, on base of the dual energy storage mechanism, the symmetric supercapacitor assembled with MWCNT-APP-Fe has a higher specific capacity (Cs, 421 F g−1 at 1 mV s−1) as well as a long-lasting stability of 94.8% capacity retention with 99% Coulombic efficiency after 10,000 cycles at 20 mV s−1. More notably, the relevant aqueous Zn2+ hybrid supercapacitor provides a high capacity (Cm) of 191 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 and a long duration of over 2000 cycles at 50 A g−1, with a capacity retention of 92.4%. In summary, MWCNT-APP-Fe with a dual energy storage mechanism enables a potential application as an electrode material for high-performance supercapacitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]