Cobalt ferrite nanoparticles for

supercapacitor application
Cite as: AIP Conference Proceedings 2265, 030162 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0017184
Published Online: 05 November 2020

S. J. Pawar, S. M. Patil, M. Chithra, Subasa C. Sahoo, and P. B. Patil

AIP Conference Proceedings 2265, 030162 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0017184 2265, 030162

© 2020 Author(s).
Cobalt Ferrite Nanoparticles for Supercapacitor Application
S. J. Pawar1, S. M. Patil2, M. Chithra3, Subasa C. Sahoo3 and P.B. Patil2, a)
1
Department of Physics, Shri Vijaysinha Yadav Arts & Science College, Peth Vadgaon,
Kolhapur, Maharashtra - 416112, India.
2
Department of Physics, The New College, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Maharashtra - 416012, India.
3
Department of Physics, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod - 671316, India.
a)
Corresponding author: prashantphy@gmail.com

Abstract. Cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized by sol-gel method and used for supercapacitor application.
Structural and morphological properties were studied by X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron
microscopy, respectively. The potential use of these nanoparticles as an electrode for supercapacitors was investigated by
the electrochemical behavior using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge-discharge tests. The CV curves of
the cobalt ferrite nanoparticle modified electrode showed a typical pseudocapacitive behavior.

1. INTRODUCTION
Due to depleting fossil fuel reserves, and escalating environmental problems, there is urgent demand for
environment-friendly energy storage and conversion system, which includes batteries, fuel cells, capacitors, and
supercapacitors [1]. Research interest in the electrochemical supercapacitors has been greatly stimulated due to their
high power density, reversibility, and cyclability [2]. In pseudo supercapacitors, capacitance arises from the faradic
reactions occurring at the electrode interface [3]. Various transition-metal oxides which show pseudocapacitance
have been widely studied for supercapacitor applications [4]. Due to its easy redox reaction, natural abundance, and
environmental friendliness oxides of iron and its composites could be a potential candidate for such applications [5].
The charge storage capacity of the iron oxide can be improved by increasing its active surface area through
nanostructuring. The sol-gel method is one of the best methods to prepare iron oxide nanoparticles due to its
advantages like low processing temperature, high purity, better homogeneity, and single-phase products [6, 7]. In
this work, CoFe2O4 nanoparticles prepared by the sol-gel technique were investigated for supercapacitor application.

2. EXPERIMENTAL
Cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized by sol-gel method. Fe(NO3)3.9H2O (AR grade) and
Co(NO3)2.6H2O (AR grade) in 2:1 ratio were dissolved in 50 ml ethylene glycol (C2H6O2). This solution was heated
to 200 °C under constant stirring for solvent evaporation, and further heating at the same temperature resulted in
self-ignition. After this, the powder was cooled down to room temperature. The powder was then annealed for two
hours at 350 °C in air and was cooled inside the furnace. CoFe2O4 nanoparticles thus prepared were used for
characterization and supercapacitor application. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern was recorded by a Rigaku
Miniflex 600 X-ray diffractometer with Cu-Kα radiation (λ=1.5406 Å). Particle size and shape was observed by the
field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) JEOL JSM-7100F. The electrochemical measurements were
carried out in 1 M KOH electrolyte with a three-electrode system using Metrohm-autolab’s potentiostat
PGSTAT302N. Glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified by CoFe2O4 nanoparticles, platinum wire, and Ag/AgCl
electrode were used as working electrode, counter electrode, and reference electrode, respectively. The working
electrode was prepared by mixing active material CoFe2O4 nanoparticles (5 mg) with 1 ml ethanol and 15 µl Nafion
binder. 10 μL of black suspension, thus prepared was dropped on the polished GCE and dried in air for 1 h at room

DAE Solid State Physics Symposium 2019

AIP Conf. Proc. 2265, 030162-1–030162-3; https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0017184
Published by AIP Publishing. 978-0-7354-2025-0/$30.00

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temperature. Cyclic voltammetry studies were measured between the potential range from -0.1 to 0.6 V at scan rates
from 5 mV/s to 100 mV/s.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Figure 1(a) shows the XRD pattern of the CoFe2O4 nanoparticles. All the observed peaks were indexed to cubic
cobalt ferrite spinel structure using JCPDS data (Card No- 221086). The FESEM micrograph shown in Fig. 1(b)
reveals the roughly spherical MNPs with average particle size ~23 nm.

FIGURE 1. (a) XRD pattern, and (b) FESEM micrograph of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles

FIGURE 2. (a) CV curves at various scan rates, and (b) charge-discharge behaviors at different current densities of CoFe2O4
nanoparticles

The electrochemical performance and charge storage mechanism of the CoFe2O4 nanoparticles were investigated
using cyclic voltammetry. The cyclic voltammograms (CV) of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles at various scan rates (5–100
mV/s) in the potential range of -0.1 to 0.6 V are shown in Fig. 2(a). The shape of the CV curves is deviating from
the ideal rectangular shape, suggesting that the capacitance of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles are mainly pseudocapacitive

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[8]. It can be seen that the current response is not linearly proportional to the scan rate. This nonlinear response of
current may due to the resistances offered by solution and electrode. Similar CV curves have been reported for the
iron oxide nanocrystals prepared by the sol-gel method [8]. Galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) measurements
were performed to evaluate the potential application of the CoFe2O4 nanoparticles as an electrode material for
supercapacitors. The GCD curves of the electrode modified by CoFe2O4 nanoparticles at different current densities
are shown in Fig. 2(b). The GCD curves are nearly symmetrical at both the currents indicating high charge-
discharge coulombic efficiency and low polarization of the fabricated electrode. The specific capacitance (Csp) was
calculated from GCD characteristics using the equation,

∆
1
∆

where Csp (F/g) is the specific capacitance, I (A) is the charge-discharge current, m (g) is the mass of the active
material, ΔV (V) is the potential range, and Δt(s) is the discharging time. The specific capacitances calculated from
GCD curves were 14 and 15 F/g at current densities of 0.9 and 0.6 A/g, respectively. As seen in Fig. 2(b), the
discharge time increases upon decreasing the current. At lower current, the active surface area is more as the
electrolyte ions can diffuse into the interior of the electrode, and hence a higher specific capacitance. At larger
current density, capacitance reduces due to the limited diffusion time available for ions to enter the interior surfaces
of the electrode [9].

4. CONCLUSIONS
In summary, we have synthesized CoFe2O4 nanoparticles of average size 23 nm and used it for fabricating
modified electrode for supercapacitor application. Due to a broad range of oxidation states, cobalt ferrite offers
advantages in electrochemical energy storage. The fabricated electrode showed a capacitance of 15 F/g at 0.6 A/g
current density. Simple as well as cost-effective fabrication of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles based electrode has great
potential for next-generation supercapacitor applications.

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