Unlocking the potential of metal organic frameworks for synergized specific and areal capacitances via orientation regulation

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) with numerous potential pseudocapacitive sites are quite appealing to supercapacitors with high specific and areal capacitances. However, MOFs suffer from a low conductivity nature, resulting in a mediocre electrochemical performance. Herein, we propose a template-growth strategy of MOF to enhance both specific and areal capacitances of MOF as the electrode material for supercapacitor. As the loading mass of MOF increases from 2 to 5 mg, the specific capacitance also increases from 937 to 2387 Fg⁻¹ (431 to 1098 Cg⁻¹) and areal capacitance 1.87 to 11.94 Fcm⁻² (0.86 to 5.49 Ccm⁻¹). Accordingly, a hybrid MOF//AC supercapacitor can deliver a maximum energy density of 67 Wh kg⁻¹ and a maximum power density of 6000 W kg⁻¹. These results point to a way to fabricate MOF electrode of supercapacitor with high specific and areal capacitance, which leads them to a more practical future. (paper)