Electrochemical Investigations of Rare Earth Orthochromite (SmCrO3) Nanosponges for Energy Storage Application

In this study, the electrochemical energy storage capabilities of hydrothermally synthesized samarium chromite (SmCrO₃) nanoparticles were thoroughly investigated, highlighting their potential application as electrode material in supercapacitor. Comprehensive structural, optical, morphological, and functional analyses were conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) to confirm the successful formation of SmCrO₃ nanoparticles. The electrochemical performance was evaluated in a three-electrode configuration employing 1 M KOH as the aqueous electrolyte, where cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were carried out. The SmCrO₃ nanoparticle electrode exhibited a high specific capacitance of 1264.2 Fg⁻¹ at a scan rate of 4 mVs⁻¹, along with an energy density of 573.7 Whkg⁻¹ and a power density of 18,775 Wkg⁻¹, indicating excellent pseudocapacitive behavior. Furthermore, the synthesized electrode demonstrated outstanding cycling stability, retaining 93% of its initial capacitance even after 1000 charge-discharge cycles. These findings suggest that SmCrO₃ nanoparticles are a promising candidate for advanced supercapacitor application, offering a favorable combination of high electrochemical performance and long-term stability. .