Ni and Ce oxide-based hollow fibers as battery-like electrodes

Minimizing the impact of fossil fuels has led to intense research for the development of new devices and components for energy applications. In this work, we have fabricated NiO, CeO2 and NiO-CeO2 hollow micro/nano fibers by Solution Blow Spinning (SBS) and evaluated their performance as electrodes for electrochemical energy storage. The electrochemical performance analysis based on cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) revealed a battery-like behavior for the electrodes. Morphological aspects, diffusive process limitations and electron conductivity are the reasons for the performance of electrodes of different compositions, according to Warburg impedance values of 14.37, 128.3 e 258.1 Ω s−0.5 and, charge transfer resistance of 1.03, 37.45 and 119.9 Ω for NiO, CeO2 and NiO-CeO2, respectively. However, hollow fiber electrodes of nickel and cerium-based oxides show better performance than literature reports for electrodes of same composition derived from conventional synthetic routes, which is understandable since battery-like electrodes involve diffusion-controlled processes. [Display omitted] •Hollow micro- and nanofibers by Solution Blow Spinning (SBS).•NiO, CeO2 and NiO-CeO2 as battery-like materials.•NiO hollow fibers showed the best electrochemical performance.•Detailed electrochemical analysis by impedance spectroscopy.