Strontium Doping Boosts Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticle Supercapacitor Performance

Researchers report that modifying cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanoparticles with strontium can improve their performance as supercapacitor electrode materials. The team synthesized both pristine and Sr-modified Co3O4 nanoparticles using a facile solution combustion route and evaluated their structural, morphological and electrochemical properties, publishing the work in the journal Ionics.

Structural investigations confirmed that the synthesized materials adopted the cubic spinel Co3O4 phase.

Morphological analysis revealed nanosized, agglomerated particles with enhanced surface characteristics. According to the authors, these features facilitate electrolyte accessibility and charge storage, two factors that are central to how well a supercapacitor electrode can deliver and accept charge quickly.

To test electrochemical behaviour, the researchers measured the electrodes in a 1 M KOH electrolyte.

Among the compositions investigated, the electrode modified with 2Sr—strontium at the second concentration level—performed best. It delivered a specific capacitance of 56.29 F g⁻¹ at a scan rate of 10 mV s⁻¹ from cyclic voltammetry and 25.11 F g⁻¹ from charge–discharge measurements, together with an energy density of 1.256 Wh kg⁻¹.

The authors attribute the enhanced electrochemical behaviour of the 2Sr-modified Co3O4 electrode to the observed structural and morphological modifications. They note the improvement may be influenced by changes in electroactive-site accessibility and charge-transfer characteristics, linking the microscopic changes seen in the structural analysis to the measured device-level performance.

The researchers emphasize that their findings demonstrate Sr modification can tailor the structural and electrochemical properties of Co3O4 under the investigated conditions. They position Sr-modified Co3O4 as a promising candidate for further supercapacitor research, while the reported capacitance and energy-density values remain specific to the tested compositions, electrolyte and measurement conditions described in the study.

Subject of Research: Strontium modification of Co3O4 nanoparticles synthesized by solution combustion for supercapacitor electrodes

Article Title: Effect of Sr modification on the structural, morphological and electrochemical properties of Co3O4 nanoparticles synthesized by solution combustion method

Article References: Srinivasa N.V., Matteppanavar, S., Painagoni, K. M., Badiger, H., & Angadi, B. (2026). Effect of Sr modification on the structural, morphological and electrochemical properties of Co3O4 nanoparticles synthesized by solution combustion method. Ionics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-026-07610-z

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s11581-026-07610-z

Keywords: Co3O4 nanoparticles, strontium doping, solution combustion synthesis, supercapacitors, pseudocapacitance, specific capacitance, energy density, spinel structure, electrode materials, KOH electrolyte, Effect, modification