Electrochemical performance of spindle-like Fe2Co-MOF and derived magnetic yolk-shell CoFe2O4 microspheres for supercapacitor applications

Nanostructured cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) has been synthesized by a two-step process, a facile ultrasonic-assisted solvothermal technique for Fe₂Co-MOF preparation and subsequent calcination. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirm the formation of MIL-88A(Fe) structure of Fe₂Co-MOF and the cubic spinel structure of CoFe₂O₄. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) images reveal that calcination process converts the spindle-like morphology of Fe₂Co-MOF to yolk-shell CoFe₂O₄ microspheres. From Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, the specific surface areas of 36.0 and 29.2 m² g^?1 are measured for Fe₂Co-MOF and CoFe₂O₄, respectively. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis of CoFe₂O₄ displays high coercivity of 2500 Oe due to surface anisotropy. Conversion of Fe₂Co-MOF to CoFe₂O₄ reduces the optical band gap from 1.92 to 1.77 eV. Electrochemical performance of Fe₂Co-MOF and CoFe₂O₄ deposited on Ni foams (NFs) is examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests. Specific capacitances of 489.9 and 192.6 F g^?1 have been achieved from GCD curves at a current density of 1 A g^?1 for Fe₂Co-MOF/NF and CoFe₂O₄/NF electrodes, respectively. Fe₂Co-MOF/NF electrode exhibits more cyclic stability than CoFe₂O₄/NF electrode after 3000 cycles.