We investigated different molar concentrations of cobalt precursor intercalated reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as possible electrode materials for supercapacitors. Cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanocubes intercalated reduced graphene oxides (rGO) were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method. It has been found that the Co3O4 particles with a cubical shape are decorated on rGO matrix with an average size of ∼45 nm. The structural crystallinity of rGO–Co3O4 composites was examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Raman spectroscopy confirmed the successful reduction of GO to rGO and effective interaction between Co3O4 and the rGO matrix. The electrochemical performances of rGO–Co3O4 electrodes were examined using cyclic voltammetry and charge–discharge techniques. The maximum specific capacitance (278 F g−1) is observed at current density of 200 mA g−1 in the C2 electrode resulting from effective ion transfer and less particle aggregation of Co3O4 on the rGO matrix than in the other electrodes. C2 exhibits good rate capability and excellent long-term cyclic stability of 91.6% for 2000 cycles. The enhanced electrochemical performance may result from uniform intercalation of cobalt oxide over the rGO. These results suggest that the Co3O4 intercalated rGO matrix could play a role in improved energy storage capability.
Solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) composed of semi-crystalline poly (vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) [P(VdF-HFP)] copolymer, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis (trifluoromethyl sulphonyl) imide [EMI-BTI] and graphene oxide (GO) was prepared and its performance evaluated. The effects of GO nano-filler were investigated in terms of enhancement in ionic conductivity along with the electrochemical properties of its electrical double layer capacitors (EDLC). The GO-doped SPE shows improvement in ionic conductivity compared to the P(VdF-HFP)-[EMI-BTI] SPE system due to the existence of the abundant oxygen-containing functional group in GO that assists in the improvement of the ion mobility in the polymer matrix. The complexation of the materials in the SPE is confirmed in X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) studies. The electrochemical performance of EDLC fabricated with GO-doped SPE is examined using cyclic voltammetry and charge–discharge techniques. The maximum specific capacitance obtained is 29.6 F∙g−1, which is observed at a scan rate of 3 mV/s in 6 wt % GO-doped, SPE-based EDLC. It also has excellent cyclic retention as it is able keep the performance of the EDLC at 94% even after 3000 cycles. These results suggest GO doped SPE plays a significant role in energy storage application.
1 December 2017 in International Journal of Hydrogen Energy