Fabrication and characterization of metal borides by gel method and their supercapacitor applications

Today, the rapid growth in the use of renewable energy sources as well as fossil fuels has indirectly increased the need for different energy storage technologies. Supercapacitors, with their high power density, fast charge-discharge capabilities, and long cycle lives, have great potential as next-generation energy storage technologies. However, the most significant drawback of supercapacitors is their low energy density. In order to increase energy density, researchers have studied the use of new electrode materials extensively. In this thesis, it was aimed to use metal borides as electrode materials such as TiB2, ZrB2, and CaB6 powders were synthesized with the gel method, and their characterization was carried out with XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, and EPR methods. The obtained powders were evaluated using 2 electrode systems in both symmetrical and asymmetrical systems in supercapacitor applications, and the performances of metal borides in symmetrical systems were investigated using electrochemical characterization techniques such as CV, PEIS and GCPL. In addition, electrochemical characterizations were performed with the same methods in asymmetric systems prepared using Graphite, Activated Carbon and Multilayer Carbon nanotubes, and the effect of carbon sources on the electrode performance of metal borides was examined.