Feeding silkworms with HPMC dispersed MoO2 NPs: An efficient strategy to enhance the supercapacitance performance of carbonized silk

It was found in our previous study that feeding silkworms with MoO2 nanoparticles (NPs) as a food additive enabled the incorporation of NPs into as-spun silk, which, turn, can be used to build electrodes for energy storage. However, aggregation observed at high fractional dosages. In order disperse fibrous silk and enhance specific capacitance carbonized more effectively, 0.5% (w/v) hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) solution utilized dispersant this work. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results confirmed HPMC increased separation incorporated within matrix. Furthermore, electrochemical performance characterized, revealing from HPMC-MoO2 NP group reached 456 F/g, compared value 245 F/g study, current density 0.2 A/g, demonstrating significant improvement. The feasibility utilizing maintain segregated state throughout all stages encapsulation, negligible impact regimen on growth silkworms, is demonstrated