Emulsion-Tailored Pore Properties and Electrochemical Performance of Ni(OH)2 Spheres Using High Shear as Driving Force

The pore-structural ordering in nanosheets-interlinked clusters is a significant issue for the electrochemical performance of Ni(OH) 2 as an electrode material for application in Faraday supercapacitors. Herein, the W/O emulsion stabilized by high shear mixer (HSM) is used as a medium to organize the pore structure in Ni(OH) 2 nanosheets-interlinked spheres. It is found that the water content in emulsion strongly affects the pore structure and surface area of Ni(OH) 2 nanosheets-interlinked spheres formed through the granulation effect of HSM. It is considered that the oil phase as continuous phase in emulsion can reduce the aggregation/agglomeration of Ni(OH) 2 nanosheets, resulting from the strong intermolecular force between nanosheets. As a result, the oil phase in emulsion is beneficial to the formation of ordered pore structure and the increase of surface area in the produced spheres. The characterization results indicate that the sample prepared at a water content of 20 vol% has the largest specific surface area and the well-defined pore structure enclosed with interlinked nanosheets. As a result, this sample presents excellent electrochemical performance and promoted cycling stability.