*3.1.2 Vanadium oxide (V2O5)*

Vanadium pentoxide is an intercalation compound with monovalent cation residing the oxide structure without changing the original structure of the material [14]. The charge storage mechanism is shown as below:

$$\rm V\_2O\_g + 2 \, M^+ + 2e^- \leftrightarrow \rm M\_2V\_2O\_g \tag{2}$$

Layered vanadium oxide structures show better potential for intercalation of diverse ions. Thus, they can be effectively used in LIBs and electrochemical capacitors [19].

#### *3.1.3 Zinc oxide (ZnO)*

ZnO is considered as an ideal capacitive material with high energy density of 650 A/g. ZnO is regarded as one of the most suitable materials for pseudocapacitor applications because of its higher electrochemical activity and lower cost. Electric doublelayer capacitor (EDLC) nature exhibited by bulk ZnO is replaced by pseudocapacitive behavior by inherently defective nanoscale ZnO. The intrinsic point defects play an important role in device performance as well as energy storage [20]. In this regard, inherently defective ZnO suits well for the pseudocapacitive applications.

### *3.1.4 Tungsten oxide (WO3)*

Tungsten oxides with WO6 as the basic octahedra units arranged via sharing corners, edges, or planes, varied with respect to the position of W atoms in the octahedral structure in which the hexagonal phase is reported as one showing best performance.

The charge storage mechanism in WO3 as follows:

$$\rm{WO\_3 + M^\* + e^- \leftrightarrow HWO\_3} \tag{3}$$

By different synthesis methods, WO3 with different size and shape can be synthesized, which includes nanorod, nanopillars, nanosphere, nanoplate, etc. [21]. By controlling the synthesis temperature and reaction time, the morphology as well as the performance of the material can be altered.

#### *3.1.5 Tin oxide (SnO2)*

SnO2 nanostructures find potential application in the much-needed fields such as energy storage and conversion. This n-type semiconductor holds high electrical conductivity (21.1Ωcm), better theoretical capacity (~782 mAh g−1), low chargedischarge plateau, superior electron mobility (100–200 cm<sup>2</sup> /Vs), low synthesis cost, making them a worthy choice for supercapacitor application [22]. Shin et al. [23] obtained a specific capacitance of 40.5 μF/cm<sup>2</sup> from hierarchical SnO2 nano branches. They reported a loss of only 8.9% of specific capacitance after 1000 cycles. The large volume change (200, 300%) reported during the charge/discharge process for supercapacitor and Li-ion application leads to pulverization and loss of electrical contact between particles, resulting in low device performance.

*Review on Transition Metal Oxides and Their Composites for Energy Storage Application DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.108781*

#### *3.1.6 Nickel oxide (NiO)*

NiO, a p-type semiconductor, has emerged as an efficient electrode material for its higher theoretical capacitance, low toxicity, and environmental impact. Pseudo capacitance property of NiO is greatly affected by its morphology, crystallinity, and conductivity. In general, the pseudo capacitive performance test of NiO is carried out using three-electrode system with nickel foam loaded with active NiO material as the working electrode, platinum sheet and saturated calomel electrode as counter electrode and reference electrode, respectively. A suitable alkaline solution will be selected as the electrolyte. NiO exhibits CV curves like battery materials. Observed redox peaks result from the mutual transformation between Ni (II) and Ni (III). The OH− ions diffused on or inside the electrode participates in the charging and discharging process. The electrochemical reaction can be expressed as [24].

$$\mathrm{NiO} + \mathrm{zOH}^- \leftrightarrow \mathrm{zNiOOH} + \left(\mathrm{1} - \mathrm{z}\right) \mathrm{NiO} + \mathrm{ze}^- \tag{4}$$

Observations from various studies record the excellent supercapacitive performance of NiO electrode materials with lower ESR and charge transfer resistance (Rct) [6]. Similarly, in most of the cases, the residual capacitance of NiO electrode materials is more than 90% of initial capacitance even after thousands of chargedischarge cycles.

#### **3.2 TMO/TMO composite**

The idea of preparing a composite structure is always encouraged because it imposes a positive result on the overall electrochemical properties of the material. Under the combined effect of various materials/ions, many of the limitations of the transition metal oxides can be surmount [25]. Zheng et al. [26] fabricated a nanostructured electrode material by combining ZnO and NiO. Here ZnO acted as the electrode modifier, and hence, the specific capacitance was improved. Materials capable of exhibiting multiple oxidation states are of particular interest when it comes to electrode fabrication. NiO is one such candidate, whose multiple valence states favor the fast redox reaction, which in turn enhances the specific capacitance. Varshney *et al* investigated the electrochemical properties of nanocomposite of SnO2 and NiO synthesized by modified sol-gel route. They exhibited a maximum specific capacitance of 464 F/g at a scan rate of 5 mV/s and appreciable capacitance retention of 87.24% after 1000 cycles signifying the fitness of this nanocomposite for highenergy-density supercapacitor electrode material [27].

Multicomponent nanomaterial combination with TMO-TMO heterostructure results in combining both the advantages of individual nanostructures. Tan et al. demonstrated such combination of MnO2 and V2O5 core-shell nanotube by aqueousbased method. It results in a high specific capacitance of 694 F/g at 1 A/g current density with excellent stability [28]. Yu et al. reported the synthesis of ZnCo2O4 at MnO2 core-shell nanosheet for asymmetric supercapacitor device fabrication using hydrothermal method. It shows a high specific capacitance of about 2170 F/g at 3 mA/ cm<sup>2</sup> in KOH electrolyte. Device fabrication was carried out with TMO heterostructure as the positive electrode and activated carbon as the negative electrode showing an energy density of 29.41 Wh/g with 95.3% retention after 3000 cycles [29].

#### **3.3 TMO/carbon-based composite**

Carbon-based materials are generally selected for various applications including supercapacitors, thanks to their high abundance and easy preparation and costeffectiveness. The porous nature and excellent conductivity make carbon-based materials—graphene, carbon nanotubes, activated carbon, and various other carbon derivatives, a widely accepted electrode materials for supercapacitor applications [30]. As the synthesis techniques are approaching new heights, carbon-based electrodes are generated in various morphologies including nanofibers, nanoflowers, nanorods, nanotubes, etc. MnO2, V2O5, ZnO, and RuO2 are some of the promising electrode materials.

The performance and structure of electrode material play crucial role in determining the effective capacity of the SC. The limitations of using MnO2 as electrode material in SC including the poor conductivity can be alleviated by combining with conductive materials such as carbon to make hybrid electrode material. Carbon-based materials such as activated carbon, carbon nanotube, graphene, etc., are attracted due to their pore structure, volume, specific surface area, and presence of functional groups [18]. Cai W et al. proposed an effective method to synthesis of N-doped Carbon@MnO2 3D core-shell composite, which shows excellent electrochemical performance. The composite shows high specific capacitance with excellent cyclic stability and high retention [31]. Carbon nanotube finds application as electrical double-layer capacitor with high specific surface area and conductivity. But the low specific capacitance limits its usage, thus combined with TMOs. Lei et al. demonstrated a facile method to synthesis MnO2 nanosheets at graphenated CNTs by hydrothermal method. It shows a high specific capacitance of 575.4 F/g at 0.5 mA/cm2 and considerably large energy density of about 51.2 Wh/kg [32]. Long et al. reported flexible SC electrode with delta MnO2 nanosheets anchored on activated carbon cloth. It exhibits a high specific capacitance of 360.5 F/g with capacitive retention of 89.5% after 10,000 cycles [33]. Guo et al. proposed a 3D vertically aligned ZnO nanorods sandwiched between rGO films by chemical vapor deposition. Specific capacitance of 51.6 F/g is achieved at 10 mV/s for supercapacitor performance [34]. Poor electrical conductivity of V2O5 can be balanced by the proper combination with conducting materials as that proposed by Perera et al. CNT/V2O5 nanowire nanocomposite thus exhibits an ideal capacitive behavior with specific capacity of 48.5 F/g and power density of 5.26 kW/kg [35].

Compared with all other carbon-based materials, graphene has attracted tremendous attention in high-performance energy storage systems because of its intriguing properties including large surface area, excellent conductivity, commendable thermal, optical, and mechanical properties. Basically, graphene is a single layer of atom constructed by sp2-bonded carbon atoms arranged in a poly aromatic honey comb crystal structure. Theoretical specific capacitance of graphene-based EDLC is 550 Fg−1. In literature, one can see that supercapacitors based on graphene exhibited a specific capacitance of 75 Fg−1 with an energy density of 31.9 Whkg−1 in ionic liquid electrolytes and 135 Fg−1 specific capacitance in aqueous electrolyte. On the other hand, it showed a specific capacitance of 99 Fg−1 in organic electrolytes [36]. But it is noted that the restacking of graphene sheets reduces its conductivity and results in poor specific capacitance. Restacking occurs due to the van der Waals interaction between the sheets, and it diminishes coulombic efficiency also. In order to improve the capacitive nature of graphene, they are usually made composites with other capacitive materials. Graphene-metal oxide composite seems to be a good combination since metal oxide hinders graphene from restacking. Metal oxides

*Review on Transition Metal Oxides and Their Composites for Energy Storage Application DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.108781*

carry the role of a stabilizer, which prevents the accumulation of graphene sheets. Combination of graphene and metal oxide compliments each other by eliminating the complications faced by these materials individually. Development of composites with pseudocapacitive materials possesses an advantage of generating capacitance from redox charge transfer in addition to the double-layer capacitance. In metal oxidegraphene composite, graphene acts as a passage for charge transfer, whereas metal oxides provide pseudo capacitance. ZnO is a versatile material possessing 3.37 eV bandgap, with an exciton binding energy of 60 meV, which makes it suitable for a wide range of applications including supercapacitors. Regardless, the lower specific capacitance exhibited by ZnO compared with other metal oxides, ZnO superiors with low cost, high abundance, and less toxicity. Also, the electron donating nature of ZnO makes it a good partner for electron acceptor graphene to make efficient electrode materials. As reported by Dutta et al. [37], ZnO/rGO composite electrode can achieve a high specific capacitance of 1012 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g with an outstanding power density of 3534.6 W/kg. Sreejesh et al. [38] further prepared ZnO/ rGO nanocomposite by microwave-assisted technique to achieve a high capacitance up to 631 F/g and a long life cycle tested up to 2000 cycles. Introduction of graphene can effectively transcend the poor electrical conductivity of NiO, another promising transition metal oxide candidate. The core-shell hybrid NiO/rGO electrode prepared by electrophoretic deposition method shows a capacitance of 940 F g−1 at a current density of 2 A g−1 [39]. Pore et al. reported the achievement of specific capacitance of 727.1 F g−1 at 1 mA cm−2 current density with good cyclic stability of about 80.4% over 9000 cycles for the hydrothermally prepared NiO/rGO electrodes [40].

#### **3.4 TMO/TMD nanocomposite**

In energy storage application, the limitations in 2D materials as potential electrodes for energy storage include the graphene-based electrodes having high electrical conductivity and mechanical strength, but it demonstrates only moderate capacity due to the charge storage on the surface only, thus decreasing its conductivity. Transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDs) shows high initial capacities, but undergoes a conversion reaction on the first discharge cycle leading to poor capacity retention. Some TMDs demonstrate relatively high electronic conductivity; many of the phases are semiconducting [41]. Transition metal oxides (TMOs) show high redox activity in intercalation reactions and relatively high working potentials making them especially attractive for use as electrodes [42]. However, low electronic conductivity of oxides imposes a requirement to mix them with a conductive additive to improve their performance. Electrochemical properties of MXenes strongly depend on the synthesis conditions and surface chemistry, and methods for control of their surface terminations need to be developed to minimize irreversible capacity. Thus, research studies point toward an active material development, construction of low cost, large scale, eco-friendly production of TMD/TMO heterostructure. To overcome the limitations of individual 2D materials such as irreversible capacity loss due to consumption of large amounts of electrolyte in the solid-electrolyte interface, electrolyte decomposition due to large no of active sites for ions intercalation, it can be combined with high redox activity of TMO. The heterostructure can create an abundance of structural defects and multiple accessible electrochemically active sites for ion/electron migrations, which would largely enhance the redox reaction activities toward electrochemical energy storages [43]. A rough schematic diagram involving fabrication of TMO/ TMD heterostructure is shown in **Figure 4**.

#### **Figure 4.**

*The fabrication process in TMO/TMD heterostructure-based supercapacitor.*

Kai Wang and coworkers [44] focused on general solution-processed formation of porous transition-metal oxides on exfoliated molybdenum disulfides for highperformance asymmetric supercapacitors. They prepared few-layered MoS2 (f- MoS2) with a series of TMOs (Ni, Co, and Fe-based oxides) via a chemical bath deposition method at ambient conditions. Each combination of MoS2 with the abovementioned TMO is synthesized and compared its electrochemical performances. They assembled asymmetric supercapacitor electrode device with a MoS2-NiO//MoS2-Fe2O3 configuration, and the device shows a maximum energy density and good cycling performance. K. Chanda and coworkers [45] prepared 3D hierarchical nanoform based on TiO2 sphere and MoS2 flake by low-temperature hydrothermal synthesis protocols. Surface area increased due to the wrapping of MoS2 flakes over TiO2 sphere. Hydrothermal treatment of these spheres creates a drastic change in their morphology. The electrochemical performance of the hybrid is compared with pristine TiO2 and found the improvement in capacitance values.

#### **3.5 TMO/conducting polymer for SC**

Conducting polymers are pseudocapacitive materials, which store charge under fast redox reaction at the surface and bulk part of electrode material. CPs having good intrinsic conductivity show poor cyclic stability due to the variation observed in polymer chain during the doping-dedoping process. It is a low-cost material with excellent charge density. It includes polyaniline (PANI), polypyrrole (PPy), and poly (3,4- ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) having theoretical capacitance of about 100 F/g. The specific capacitance shown by CPs is two times greater than that of EDLCs. On the other hand, TMOs having low conductivity limit its applicability to achieve the high theoretical capacitance. By combining the advantages of both, the performance might be enhanced with high specific capacitance and good electrical conductivity compared with pure ones [46] without any loss in the pseudocapacitance of the material.
