Abstract

Nano-sized europium tungstate particles were prepared by reacting europium nitrate hexahydrate and sodium tungstate solutions, and the structures, morphology and optical properties of the product were evaluated by XRD, FT-IR, SEM, and UV-Visible techniques. The Eu-2(WO4)(3) nanoparticles were evaluated as potential materials for constructing supercapacitor electrodes using the results of cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and the electrodes were found to have a specific capacitance (SC) value of 347 F g(-1) in a 2.0 M H2SO4 electrolyte at a scan rate of 2 mV s(-1). The electrodes were further studied at the GCD at a current density of 1 A g(-1), and the SC of the building material was found to be 282 F g(-1). The cycling durability of the electrodes was also found to be excellent. After 4000 cycles the SC values of the electrodes were found to reach 129. The preparation method and the resulting nano-particles, were hence found to be promising for high performance energy applications.