Scalable fabrication of NiCo(PO4)3 on carbon cloth: Toward next-gen flexible electrochemical energy storage devices

: The excellent redox properties and high electrical conductivity of transition metal phosphates have shown exceptional contribution as electrochemical energy storage materials. In this study, nickel cobalt phosphate (NiCo(PO 4 ) 3 ) nanostructures were directly grown on flexible carbon cloth (CC) through a simple and cost-effective hydrothermal process, enabling the fabrication of a binder-free and mechanically robust electrode. The prepared NiCo(PO 4 ) 3 @CC electrode exhibits outstanding electrochemical performance in a three-electrode system using 1 M KOH, delivering a high specific capacity of 117 C/g at 0.4 A/g and an areal capacitance of 59.80 F/cm 2 at 10 mV/s. Notably, the asymmetric device (NiCo(PO 4 ) 3 @CC//AC), remained stable over a wide-operating potential of 1.5 V, delivering a maximum specific capacity of 96.16 C/g, and excellent cycling durability with 79.1% retention after 8000 cycles. This work highlights the synergistic integration of redox-active bimetallic phosphate with a conductive and flexible carbon cloth-based substrate, offering an effective pathway for high-performance, flexible, and wearable electrochemical energy storage devices.