Activation of the microstructures in nickel-based bimetallic complexes for aqueous batteries

The full utilization of active metal sites is meaningful for enhancing the application of materials in the energy storage field. In this study, a nickel-based nanosphere (NiSA-SSA-Co) precursor was obtained via effective doping based on a dual-ligand complex. With thermal activation, the pore microstructure of the precursor was modulated, and a transition state complex (NiSA-SSA-Co-350) was fabricated. NiSA-SSA-Co-350 not only retains part of the framework structure, but also fully exposes the metal nodes and enhances the efficiency of the active sites. NiSA-SSA-Co-350 exhibits optimal conductivity and intrinsic reactivity when applied as an electrode material for nickel-zinc batteries (NZBs). In contrast to the precursor, NiSA-SSA-Co-350 with large specific surface area shows a higher specific capacity (0.30 mAh cm⁻² at 3 mA cm⁻²). This work hopefully provides a new perspective on the study of nanomaterial porosity in energy storage applications.