Cobalt Schiff base complex as battery-type electrode for supercapacitor applications

• Cobalt Schiff base complex [Co(L) 2 (H 2 O) 4 ] was synthesized using hydrazone as frameworks to the futuristic Sc electrodes. • Hydrogen bonding networks ensued 3D supramolecular assembly . • Microstructures composed of some regularly sandwich stacking with different thickness. • Fusion of cobalt towards ligand assembly escalated the specific capacitance of about tenfold. • ASC Device exhibited energy density of 51.45 Wh kg −1 & power density of 838.13 W kg −1 . Materials containing Schiff-base functional groups are considered as a promising frame works for design of innovative supercapacitor electrodes. Cobalt Schiff base complex [Co(L) 2 (H 2 O) 4 ] is synthesized utilizing a Schiff base ligand (3-(3-Imino-5-oxo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-[ 1 , 2 , 4 ]triazin-6-yl)-propionic acid), HL derived from α-ketoglutaric acid and aminoguanidine with cobalt chloride hexahydrate (CoCl 2 ·6H 2 O). Molecular structures are identified using Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV–Visible, Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, Powder and Single crystal X-ray Diffraction (PXRD &SXRD) techniques. Cobalt ions are hexa -coordinated to two monodendate (O - ) hydrazone ligand and four water molecules, ensuring the development of distorted octahedral environment. The structural analysis reveals the well-defined crystalline nanostructure. Besides, the electrodes of complex material exhibit maximum specific capacity of 602 C g −1 @ 1 A g −1 , which is greater than the base ligand (61 C g −1 ). Furthermore, an asymmetric device is made-up, consisting activated carbon and cobalt complex as the negative and positive electrode respectively. This device reveals a specific capacity of 225 C g −1 and good energy density of 51.45 Wh kg −1 with a power density of 838.13 W kg −1 . Moreover, the fabricated cell is found to have a better capacity preservation of 98% after 1000 consecutive GCD cycles.