Synergistic Effects of Eu3+ Doped MoO3-MoS2 Heterostructure for High-Performance Supercapacitor Applications
Fabrication of high-performance supercapacitors is crucial in developing energy storage technology, particularly for high-power density and long cycle life applications. In the current research, Eu3+ doped MoO3-MoS2 heterostructure was synthesized and characterized for electrochemical performance as a supercapacitor electrode material. Heterostructure was synthesized via two step reaction where in the first step we prepared Eu3+ doped MoO3 using co-precipitation method and followed by liquid phase reactor sulfidation to produce heterostructure. Intercalation of Eu3+ in the MoO3 lattice successfully controlled electronic structure, enhancing charge transport and electrochemical stability. MoO3-MoS2 heterostructure exhibited a synergistic effect where the high electrical conductivity of MoS2 ensured quick charge transfer and the pseudocapacitive characteristic of MoO3 demonstrated great energy storage capability. The crystal structure, crystal phase, chemical composition, and optical properties were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Photoluminescence Spectroscopy. Elemental mapping supported the presence of each element in the synthesized materials. Electrochemical characterization via cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) showed better capacitive performance with high specific capacitance of 52.60 mF/Cm2, better rate capability, and excellent cycling stability. Eu doping not only enhanced ion diffusion kinetics but also suppressed the degradation of the electrode structure under long-term charge-discharge cycling. The heterostructure showed a significant improvement in charge storage efficiency compared to pure MoO₃ and Eu3+ doped MoO3 based on improved redox activity and interfacial charge transfer. Outcomes of this work prove the prospective of Eu-doped MoO₃-MoS₂ as a high-performance electrode material for next-generation supercapacitors. Excellent electrochemical performance coupled with structural stability renders this heterostructure a promising material for clean energy storage applications.
Keywords: Heterostructures, Synergistic effect, Supercapacitor.