Research Projects

Energy storage technologies stand at the heart of global sustainable development, offering solutions that harmonize economic progress with environmental conservation. Supercapacitors have emerged as a promising technology, addressing the growing need for high-performance energy storage systems with their exceptional power density, rapid charge-discharge capabilities, and notable cycling stability. However, their relatively low energy density remains a significant challenge, limiting their application in certain energy storage scenarios. This project focuses on developing advanced nanocomposites using rice husk agricultural waste-derived carbon quantum dots (CQDs) to stabilize conductive 1T-MoS₂ alongside metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with subsequent fabrication of CQD@1T-MoS₂/MOF hybrid devices. The 1T phase of MoS₂ offers superior metallic conductivity and electrochemical activity compared to its semiconducting 1H counterpart, while MOFs provide excellent electrical conductivity and abundant redox-active sites. Despite their potential, both materials face stability challenges: 1T-MoS₂ is prone to phase transition to the less conductive 2H phase, and MOFs often suffer from structural degradation during prolonged cycling.This project introduces an innovative stabilization strategy utilizing CQDs synthesized from rice husk agricultural waste to address these stability issues. These eco-friendly quantum dots serve dual functions: they effectively stabilize the 1T phase of MoS₂, preventing undesirable phase transitions, while simultaneously enhancing charge transfer efficiency. When integrated with MOFs, the CQDs form a robust, porous framework that maintains structural integrity while maximizing the availability of redox-active sites. This synergistic combination harnesses the high conductivity of 1T-MoS₂ and the pseudocapacitive properties of MOFs, resulting in significantly improved energy storage performance.The CQDs and nitrogen-doped variants (NCQDs) from rice husk waste will be synthesised via an optimized hydrothermal method. These NCQDs are then anchored to 1T-MoS₂ via a two-step hydrothermal process. Co-MOF will have grown controllably on the NCQD@1T-MoS₂ framework through solvothermal methods. Finally, NCQD@1T-MoS2/ Co-MOF is engineered into supercapacitor devices, with systematic electrochemical analysis to evaluate energy density, rate capability, and cycling stability. Rice husk-derived CQDs offer a sustainable, cost-effective solution for high-performance supercapacitor electrodes. By converting biomass into advanced nanomaterials, this approach enhances surface area, energy density, rate capability, and cycling stability. N-doped CQDs (NCQDs) further improve conductivity and electrochemical activity. Combining nanotechnology with eco-friendly source, this project overcomes current supercapacitor limitations while aligning with global sustainability goals, paving the way for efficient, durable, and green energy storage systems.