Electrochemical energy storage in montmorillonite K10 clay based composite as supercapacitor using ionic liquid electrolyte

Exploring new electrode materials is the key to realize high performance energy storage devices for effective utilization of renewable energy. Natural clays with layered structure and high surface area are prospective materials for electrical double layer capacitors (EDLC). In this work, a novel hybrid composite based on acid-leached montmorillonite (K10), multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and manganese dioxide (MnO₂) was prepared and its electrochemical properties were investigated by fabricating two-electrode asymmetric supercapacitor cells against activated carbon (AC) using 1.0 M tetraethylammonium tetrafluroborate (Et₄NBF₄) in acetonitrile (AN) as electrolyte. The asymmetric supercapacitors, capable of operating in a wide potential window of 0.0-2.7V, showed a high energy density of 171 Wh kg^-1 at a power density of ~1.98kWkg^-1. Such high EDLC performance could possibly be linked to the acid-base interaction of K10 through its surface hydroxyl groups with the tetraethylammonium cation [(C₂H₅)₄N⁺ or TEA⁺] of the ionic liquid electrolyte. Even at a very high power density of 96.4 kW kg^-1, the cells could still deliver an energy density of 91.1 Wh kg^-1 exhibiting an outstanding rate capability. The present study demonstrates for the first time, the excellent potential of clay-based composites for high power energy storage device applications.