Nickel-Doped MoS2 Nanoparticles Improve Supercapacitor Electrode Performance

A laboratory study found that nickel-doped molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles can deliver strong charge storage in supercapacitor electrodes. The best-performing formulation, designated Ni-MoS2-6%, reached a specific capacitance of 1,210 F/g at a current density of 2 A/g in a three-electrode test. When paired with activated carbon in a full asymmetric supercapacitor, the material enabled a specific capacitance of 433 F/g at 2 A/g, an energy density of 121 Wh/kg at a power density of 2,360 W/kg, and 78.6% capacity retention after 1,000 cycles.

The researchers synthesized the nanoparticles through a one-step hydrothermal process, evaluating nickel concentrations from 2% to 8%. X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that the resulting particles had a well-stacked, phase-pure hexagonal lattice. X-ray diffraction also placed the crystallite size at approximately 9 to 9.3 nm, while the synthesis and characterization findings show that the tested compositions retained the same identified MoS2 crystal phase despite the varying nickel content.

Nickel content also altered the material’s estimated optical bandgap. Analysis using Tauc plots showed a progressive contraction from 2.37 eV at the lowest tested nickel concentration to 2.01 eV at the highest. The authors associated this narrowing with enhanced intrinsic electronic conductivity. These bandgap figures were optical estimates derived from the characterization data; the reported electrochemical performance provides the direct evidence for the resulting electrode behavior.

Electrochemical evaluations indicated that the nickel-doped electrodes combined electrical double-layer capacitance with highly reversible Faradaic pseudocapacitance. The authors attributed the performance of the optimized 6% formulation to reduced charge-transfer resistance and an increased number of active edge defects. Its three-electrode capacitance of 1,210 F/g at 2 A/g was the strongest result among the tested compositions. The abstract does not provide the mass-loading basis, electrolyte or number of replicate measurements, so the result should be understood as a laboratory finding under the reported test conditions.

The asymmetric device combined the Ni-MoS2-6% electrode with activated carbon and delivered 433 F/g at 2 A/g. At a power density of 2,360 W/kg, it stored 121 Wh/kg, and its capacity retention reached 78.6% following 1,000 cycles. The abstract does not specify the number of cells tested, device construction details, environmental conditions or variation among nominally identical devices. The results therefore demonstrate performance over the reported laboratory test cycle, but they do not establish durability in commercial-format devices or under operating conditions beyond those described in the study.

Subject of Research: Hydrothermal synthesis and electrochemical testing of nickel-doped MoS2 supercapacitor electrodes

Article Title: Hydrothermal synthesis of ni-doped MoS₂ nanoparticles as an advanced electrode material for supercapacitors

Article References: Pravin Bavithra S, & Cibil R (2026). Hydrothermal synthesis of ni-doped MoS₂ nanoparticles as an advanced electrode material for supercapacitors. Ionics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-026-07562-4

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s11581-026-07562-4

Keywords: nickel-doped MoS2, supercapacitors, electrode materials, hydrothermal synthesis, pseudocapacitance, specific capacitance, energy density, power density, cycling stability, electrochemical energy storage, Hydrothermal, synthesis