Synergy of PVP and ethanol to synthesize Ni3S4 quantum dots for high-performance asymmetric supercapacitors

摘要： Ni3S4 quantum dots (QDs) have great potential for supercapacitors due to their unique quantum effects, high specific surface area, high water solubility and good stability, but the current preparation process is cumbersome and toxic. Here, we highlighted a facile and environmental-friendly synthesis of Ni3S4 QDs for the first time by virtue of the synergy of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and ethanol. The synergistic mechanism was revealed by using XRD to investigate the effect of synthesis solvent. When QDs was used as a supercapacitor electrode material, it exhibited excellent electrochemical properties, and the specific capacitance at 1 A g-1 was 1440 F g-1. In addition, Ni3S4 QDs and activated carbon (AC) are assembled into Ni3S4 QDs//AC asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC), which delivered the maximum energy density of 60.4 Wh kg-1. This work provides new ideas for the preparation of QDs and opens up new concepts for the synthesis of nickel sulfide.