Few layered MoS₂ grown on pencil graphite: a unique single-step approach to fabricate economical, binder-free electrode for supercapacitor applications

While all reports on supercapacitors are based on electrodes that are fabricated either using expensive, complex fabrication techniques or multiple steps based synthesis routes, the current work is the first report of one-step hydrothermally grown MoS₂ on pencil graphite electrode (PGE) for ultra-high performance supercapacitor application. Field emission scanning electron microscope images revealed MoS₂ micro-flower like structure containing interwoven nanosheets whereas chemical characterizations data confirmed the successful growth of few layered (>4 layers) MoS₂ on PGE. The performance of the electrode was optimized using various grades of pencil, and it was found that the areal capacitance of the MoS₂ grown on 1H PGE(7178.8 mF cm⁻²) was about 3.4 and 4.1 folds greater than those of the MoS₂ grown on 2B, 6H PGE at the same current density respectively. This low cost, binder-free MoS₂ based PGE paves a novel way towards the advancement of affordable electrodes for energy storage-conversion and bioanalytical applications. (paper)