Electrochemical behavior of CuO/rGO nanopellets for flexible supercapacitor,non-enzymatic glucose,and H2O2 sensing application

In the present article, graphene oxide (GO) sheets and monoclinic copper oxide (CuO) nanocrystals are connected with each other and result in the formation of CuO/rGO nanopellets, and these nanopellets synthesized using coprecipitation method. The nanopellet structured CuO/rGO composite on carbon cloth, which act as current collector exhibits specific capacitance of 188 F g^?1 at a current density of 0.2 A g^?1 and up to 96.3% capacity retention after 2000 charge-discharge cycles. It shows a maximum energy density of 7.32 Wh kg^?1 and power density of 53 W kg^?1. The glucose sensing characteristics of CuO/rGO nanopellet is investigated on carbon cloth and ITO substrate. It shows glucose sensitivity of 0.805 mA mM^?1 cm^?2 and 0.2982 mA mM^?1 cm^?2 for a bundle like structured CuO/rGO composite on carbon cloth and ITO substrate, respectively. Further H₂O₂ sensing is studied on ITO substrate, which manifests H₂O₂ sensitivity of 84.39 μA mM^?1 cm^?2. The results indicate that nanopellet structured CuO/rGO composite could be a promising electrode material for supercapacitor, glucose, and H₂O₂ sensor.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of Co-doped SnO2/rGO for indoor humidity monitoring

The evaluation of indoor humidity is challenging compared to other environmental parameters such as light intensity, temperature, sound and so forth. The proper selection of sensing materials and structural tuning will lead to high-performance humidity sensors. Herein, the SnO₂/rGO and SnO₂/rGO doped with Co nanocomposite were produced by microwave route. The obtained nanocomposite was characterized by XRD, SEM, EDAX, DTA, TGA, FTIR, Raman, and HRTEM. The successful incorporation of Co onto the rGO/SnO₂ is affirmed by the XRD and supported with matching SEM and TEM outcomes where nanoscale particles exist. FTIR reveals the existence of the CC stretching band at ～1570 cm^?1 indicating graphene network sustaining upon reduction. Micro-pores presence is claimed by the adsorption-desorption isotherm curve. The humidity sensing behavior of both structures was evaluated in a wide range of humidity (11–97% RH). The obtained results confirmed that best working frequency for highest humidity change is 50 Hz. Furthermore, upon doping the SnO₂/rGO composite with Co, sensitivity, the response time and recovery time has improved reaching 52 s and 100 s respectively.     

A novel high power symmetric ZnO/carbon aerogel composite electrode for electrochemical supercapacitor

We present, for the first time, a new material of symmetric electrochemical supercapacitor in which zinc oxide (ZnO) with carbon aerogel (CA) was used as active material. Physical properties of ZnO/CA composite were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that ZnO has single hexagonal structure and the grain size increases with increase of ZnO compository. The result of cyclic voltammetry indicates that the specific capacitance of ZnO/CA composite in 6 M KOH electrolyte was approximately 25 F/g at 10 mV/s for 2:1 composition. AC impedance analysis reveals that ZnO with carbon aerogel powder enhanced the conductivity by reducing the internal resistance. Galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements were done at various current densities, namely 25, 50, 75, and 100 mA/cm². It was found that the cells have excellent electrochemical reversibility and capacitive characteristics in KOH electrolyte. The maximum capacitance of the ZnO/CA supercapacitor was 500 F/g at 100 mA/cm². It has been observed that the specific capacitance is constant up to 500 cycles at all current densities, which implies that the dendrite formation was controlled.     

CoO/rGO composite prepared by a facile direct-flame approach for high-power supercapacitors

In this study, CoO nanoparticles (NPs) measuring approximately 20?nm in size are successfully grown on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) layers through a facile direct-flame approach. The obtained CoO/rGO nanocomposites are applied as electrode materials and show a high specific capacitance, reaching 1615.0?F?g^?1 at a current of 1?A?g^?1 (737.5?F?g^?1 at 50?A?g^?1), and good cycling stability (88.12% retention after more than 15,000 cycles at 5?A?g^?1), which are outstanding characteristics compared with those of recently reported pseudosupercapacitors. Furthermore, an asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) produced using CoO/rGO as a positive electrode material and activated graphene (AG) as a negative electrode achieves a high cell voltage of 1.6?V and delivers a maximum energy density of 62.46?Wh?kg^?1 at a power density of 1600?W?kg^?1. The fabrication technique is facile and represents a promising means of obtaining metal oxide/graphene composites for high-performance supercapacitors.     

Facile synthesis of reduced graphene oxide/CeO2 nanocomposites and their application in supercapacitors

The combination of the attractive properties of graphene with excellent characteristics of other functional nanomaterials has become a popular pathway for achieving applications in multiple fields. Herein, reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/CeO₂ nanocomposites with enhanced capacitive performance were designed and synthesized by a facile two-step approach with a self-assembly method followed by thermal treatment. The structure, morphology and composition of the resulting RGO/CeO₂ nanocomposites were systematically investigated. The presence of RGO can prevent the aggregation and control the structures of the CeO₂ nanocrystals in the annealing process. The nanocomposites as electrode materials for supercapacitor exhibited an enhanced capacitive performance due to the synergic effect between RGO nanosheets and CeO₂ nanocrystals. The excellent capacitive performance of the RGO/CeO₂ nanocomposites offer great promise for supercapacitor applications.     

Reduced chemically modified graphene oxide for supercapacitor electrode

An efficient active material for supercapacitor electrodes is prepared by reacting potassium hydroxide (KOH) with graphene oxide followed by chemical reduction with hydrazine. The electrochemical performance of KOH treated graphene oxide reduced for 24 h (reduced chemically modified graphene oxide, RCMGO-24) exhibits a specific capacitance of 253 F g^-1 at 0.2 A g^-1 in 2 M H₂SO₄ compared to a value of 141 F g^-1 for graphene oxide reduced for 24 h (RGO-24), and good cyclic stability up to 3,000 cycles. Interestingly, RCMGO-24 demonstrated a higher specific capacitance and excellent cycle stability due to its residual oxygen functional groups that accelerate the faradaic reactions and aid in faster wetting. This non-annealed strategy offers the potential for simple and cost-effective preparation of an active material for a supercapacitor electrode.     

Hydrothermal synthesis of Polypyrrole/MoS2 intercalation composites for supercapacitor electrodes

As a pseudocapacitive electrode materials for supercapacitor, Polypyrrole (PPy) exhibit excellent theoretical specific capacitance. However, it suffers from a poor cycling stability due to structural instability during charge-discharge process. In this work, a novel and facile hydrothermal method has been developed for the intercalation composites of PPy/MoS₂ with multilayer three-dimensional structure. The report result shows that the as-prepared electrode possess a outstanding electrochemical properties with significantly specific capacitance of 895.6 F g⁻¹ at current density of 1 A g⁻¹, higher energy density (3.774 Wh kg⁻¹) at power density of 252.8 kW kg⁻¹, furthermore, it also achieve remarkable cycling stability (~98% capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles) which is attributed to the synergistic effect of PPy and MoS₂. This synthetic strategy integrates performance enables the multilayer PPy/MoS₂ composites to be a promising electrode for energy storage applications.     

Microwave-assisted one-pot synthesis of metal/metal oxide nanoparticles on graphene and their electrochemical applications

An effective synthesis strategy of hybrid metal (PtRu)/metal oxide (SnO₂) nanoparticles on graphene nanocomposites is developed using a microwave-assisted one-pot reaction process. The mixture of ethylene glycol (EG) and water is used as both solvent and reactant. In the reaction system for the synthesis of SnO₂/graphene nanocomposite, EG not only reduces graphene oxide (GO) to graphene, but also results in the formation of SnO₂ facilitated by the presence of a small amount of water. On the other hand, in the reaction system for preparation of PtRu/graphene nanocomposites, EG acts as solvent and reducing agent for reduction of PtRu nanoparticles from their precursors and reduction of graphene from graphene oxide. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterizations confirm the feasibility of the microwave-assisted reaction system to simultaneously reduce graphene oxide and to form SnO₂ or PtRu nanoparticles. The as-synthesized SnO₂/graphene hybrid composites show a much higher supercapacitance than the pure graphene, and the as-prepared PtRu/graphene show much better electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation compared to the commercial E-TEK PtRu/C electrocatalysts.     

Fabrication of CuFe2O4@g-C3N4@GNPs nanocomposites as anode material for supercapacitor applications

The aim of this study was to synthesize CuFe₂O₄ together with g-C₃N₄ and GNPs in various combinations on the surface of Ni foam for use as anode materials in supercapacitors. The fabricated electrodes were investigated by XRD, FTIR, XPS, BET, SEM and TEM for content and by CV, GCD and EIS analysis for electrochemistry. The characterization results showed that CuFe₂O₄ was successfully synthesized together with g-C₃N₄ and GNPs in a nanosponge-like geometry. The highest value of specific capacitance was found to be 989 mF/cm² at 2 mA measurement in the triple combination. Moreover, the stability of this electrode was measured to be 70% after 1500 cycles at 16 mA, while the energy and power densities were calculated to be 27.8 mWh/cm² and 300 mW/cm², respectively. The EIS results show that the carbon-based component increased the Cs value by decreasing the charge transfer and diffusion resistances of the electrodes. Compared to its counterparts in the literature, its Cs value is quite high, but its stability is low, so it can be used in low-cycle applications.     

Morphological evolution of flower-like ZnO microstructures and their gas sensing properties

Flower-like ZnO microstructures have been fabricated by a facile microwave hydrothermal method (HM) with the aid of benzoic acid. The obtained products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The morphology gradually evolved from flower bud shape to fireworks display with increase of alkalinity in the presence of benzoic acid. The formation mechanism of the flower-like ZnO microstructures was investigated briefly. Furthermore, the gas response of the flower-like ZnO microstructures has been studied to a series of organic vapors. It was found that the gas sensing properties were influenced by the size of the ZnO microstructures. The facile preparation method and the improved gas-sensing properties derived from the flower-like ZnO microstructures demonstrated their potential applications in gas sensor.     

Rapid microwave-assisted synthesis of graphene nanosheet/Co3O4 composite for supercapacitors

Graphene nanosheet (GNS)/Co₃O₄ composite has been rapidly synthesized by microwave-assisted method. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy observation reveals the homogeneous distribution of Co₃O₄ nanoparticles (3-5 nm in size) on graphene sheets. Electrochemical properties are characterized by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. A maximum specific capacitance of 243.2 F g⁻¹ has been obtained at a scan rate of 10 mV s⁻¹ in 6 M KOH aqueous solution for GNS/Co₃O₄ composite. Furthermore, the composite exhibits excellent long cycle life along with ∼95.6% specific capacitance retained after 2000 cycle tests.     

A new As3Mo8V4/PANi/rGO composite for high performance supercapacitor electrode

Herein, [As₂^IIIAs^VMo₈^VIV₄^IVO₄₀]₂[Cu^ICu₂^II(pz)₄]₂·9H₂O/polyaniline/reduced graphene oxide (pz = pyrazine, abbreviated to As₃Mo₈V₄/PANi/rGO) composite is first assembled, characterized and systematically explored for its supercapacitor performance. As₃Mo₈V₄/PANi/rGO composite shows a exceptional specific capacitance (2351 F g^?1 at 1 A g^?1) and outstanding cyclic stability (96.9% after 5000 cycles). The symmetric supercapacitor exhibits high specific capacitance of 1295 F g^?1 at 1 A g^?1 and excellent energy density of 88.1 Wh kg^-1 at power density of 349.6 W kg^-1, while maintaining a notable capacitance retention of 85.7% after 5000 cycles at 2 A g^-1. The above results confirm the potential application of As₃Mo₈V₄/PANi/rGO composite in energy storage devices.     

Multifunctional ZnO/Fe-O and graphene oxide nanocomposites: Enhancement of optical and magnetic properties

ZnO is a semiconductor with a great interest, but it has several deficiencies which limit its use in technologic applications. One important limitation is having the band gap in the UV which reduces its use in optical devices. To solve this problem, in this work, composites based in ZnO with goethite and graphene oxide (GO) by sol-gel are prepared. The obtained samples (powders and thin films) were characterized microstructurally (DTA, XRD, micro-Raman, FE-SEM), optically (transmittance and photoluminescence) and magnetically (SQUID). The ZnO band gap of multifunctional composites shows a red-shift towards visible range (E_g ∼3.01 eV) with high transmittance ∼85% (thickness of 362 nm) over the visible wavelength range. A long-range magnetic order at room temperature appears in these nanocomposites (Ms = 1.60·10⁻² emu/g). The combination of both dopants allows modifying the functional properties of ZnO, opening a great field of applications in ZnO composites, such as spintronic and optoelectronic devices.     

Materials and electrode designs of high-performance NiCo2S4/Reduced graphene oxide for supercapacitors

NiCo₂S₄ is one of the most promising bimetallic sulfides for use in energy-storage systems, but more studies are needed to endow NiCo₂S₄ with a high electrochemical reaction capability and reversibility. In this work, we present rationally materials design of an optimal NiCo₂S₄ nanoparticle in a reduced graphene oxide (RGO) matrix as a NiCo₂S₄/RGO nanocomposite. Furthermore, we report the improvements in the materials technology, demonstrating the NiCo₂S₄/RGO nanocomposite electrode with an excellent specific capacitance of 963–700 F g⁻¹ at 1–15 A g⁻¹, high capacitance retention of 70%, and long cycle life of 3000 cycles. The practical application is showcased in an asymmetric supercapacitor with a high active-material loading. The NiCo₂S₄/RGO nanocomposite shows a high energy density of 31 Wh kg⁻¹ at a power density of 987 W kg⁻¹ and maintains an excellent density of 23 Wh kg⁻¹ at a high power density of 7418 W kg⁻¹. The outstanding electrochemical utilization and stability of the NiCo₂S₄/RGO nanocomposite confirm that our systematic optimization in the materials science and technology in terms of the active-material synthesis, the electrode development, and the device design/fabrication would benefit the future development of high-performance supercapacitors.     

Exploring the methods of synthesis,functionalization, and characterization of graphene and graphene oxide for supercapacitor applications

Graphene and graphene oxide, are attracting more attention over the last decades in the area of supercapacitor research and researchers concentrate on extensive exploration, owing to their dominating electrical conductivity, combined with mechanical properties. This review is a panoramic approach, giving insights into various aspects related to graphene and graphene oxide such as their properties, production methods, functionalities, and their applications in supercapacitors. The study ought to be beneficial to novice as well as to the domain experts. Various properties of both materials are explored and both synthesis methods are elaborated. Extra emphasis is given to bring out the role of graphene and graphene oxide in promoting the performance of supercapacitors. Synthesis methods are tabulated based on the evaluation metrics like specific capacitance and capacitance retention. Finally, the application of graphene and graphene oxide in supercapacitors are highlighted. Before concluding, perspectives along with challenges for further development are proposed and are expected to facilitate researchers in shedding light on further studies in this explorative area.     

One-pot hydrothermal synthesis of Mn3O4 nanorods grown on Ni foam for high performance supercapacitor applications

Mn₃O₄/Ni foam composites were synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method in an aqueous solution containing only Mn(NO₃)₂ and C₆H₁₂N₄. It was found that Mn₃O₄ nanorods with lengths of 2 to 3 μm and diameters of 100 nm distributed on Ni foam homogeneously. Detailed reaction time-dependent morphological and component evolution was studied to understand the growth process of Mn₃O₄ nanorods. As cathode material for supercapacitors, Mn₃O₄ nanorods/composite exhibited superior supercapacitor performances with high specific capacitance (263 F · g^-1 at 1A · g^-1), which was more than 10 times higher than that of the Mn₃O₄/Ni plate. The enhanced supercapacitor performance was due to the porous architecture of the Ni foam which provides fast ion and electron transfer, large reaction surface area, and good conductivity.     

Fabrication and electrochemical capacitance of hierarchical graphene/polyaniline/carbon nanotube ternary composite film

A film composed of graphene (GN) sheets, polyaniline (PANI) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been fabricated by reducing a graphite oxide (GO)/PANI/CNT precursor prepared by flow-directed assembly from a complex dispersion of GO and PANI/CNT, followed by reoxidation and redoping of the reduced PANI in the composite to restore the conducting PANI structure. Scanning electron microscope images indicate that the ternary composite film is a layered structure with coaxial PANI/CNT nanocables uniformly sandwiched between the GN sheets. Such novel hierarchical structure with high electrical conductivity perfectly facilitates contact between electrolyte ions and PANI for faradaic energy storage and efficiently utilizes the double-layer capacitance at the electrode–electrolyte interfaces. The specific capacitance of the GN/PANI/CNT estimated by galvanostatic charge/discharge measurement is 569 F g⁻¹ (or 188 F cm⁻³ for volumetric capacitance) at a current density of 0.1 A g⁻¹. In addition, the GN/PANI/CNT exhibits good rate capability (60% capacity retention at 10 A g⁻¹) and superior cycling stability (4% fade after 5000 continuous charge/discharge cycles).     

Microwave assisted ultrafast synthesis of graphene oxide based magnetic nano composite for environmental remediation

We have successfully synthesized multi-layer graphene oxide and graphene oxide based magnetic nanocomposite (M/GO) by microwave-assisted modified Hummers’ method for removal of toxic lead (Pb²⁺) and cadmium (Cd²⁺) ions from aqueous solution. The X-ray diffraction spectra of synthesized graphene oxide and M/GO confirm increased interlayer spacing along c-axis. Raman spectra revealed the good quality of synthesized GO and M/GO. The wrinkles were seen in the SEM images of synthesized graphene oxide. The presence of conjugated double bond (CC) and carbonyl (CO) were confirmed by using the UV–Vis spectroscopic spectra. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis showed high (126 m²/g) surface area M/GO composite which accounts for large number of active binding sites for the adsorption of heavy metal ions. The adsorption studies revealed that Pb²⁺ ions were efficiently adsorbed on GO sheets. Interestingly, M/GO showed better adsorption for cadmium ions.     

Solvothermal synthesis of SnO2/graphene nanocomposites for supercapacitor application

A facile solvent-based synthesis route based on the oxidation–reduction reaction between graphene oxide (GO) and SnCl₂·2H₂O has been developed to synthesize SnO₂/graphene (SnO₂/G) nanocomposites. The reduction of GO and the in situ formation of SnO₂ nanoparticles were achieved in one step. Characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis) absorption spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) confirmed the feasibility of using the solvothermally treated reaction system to simultaneously reduce GO and form SnO₂ nanoparticles with an average particle size of 10 nm. The electrochemical performance of SnO₂/graphene showed an excellent specific capacitance of 363.3 F/g, which was five-fold higher than that of the as-synthesized graphene (68.4 F/g). The contributing factors were the synergistic effects of the excellent conductivity of graphene and the nanosized SnO₂ particles.     

Vertically aligned ZnO nanorod core-polypyrrole conducting polymer sheath and nanotube arrays for electrochemical supercapacitor energy storage

Nanocomposite electrodes having three-dimensional (3-D) nanoscale architecture comprising of vertically aligned ZnO nanorod array core-polypyrrole (PPy) conducting polymer sheath and the vertical PPy nanotube arrays have been investigated for supercapacitor energy storage. The electrodes in the ZnO nanorod core-PPy sheath structure are formed by preferential nucleation and deposition of PPy layer over hydrothermally synthesized vertical ZnO nanorod array by controlled pulsed current electropolymerization of pyrrole monomer under surfactant action. The vertical PPy nanotube arrays of different tube diameter are created by selective etching of the ZnO nanorod core in ammonia solution for different periods. Cyclic voltammetry studies show high areal-specific capacitance approximately 240 mF.cm^-2 for open pore and approximately 180 mF.cm^-2 for narrow 30-to-36-nm diameter PPy nanotube arrays attributed to intensive faradic processes arising from enhanced access of electrolyte ions through nanotube interior and exterior. Impedance spectroscopy studies show that capacitive response extends over larger frequency domain in electrodes with PPy nanotube structure. Simulation of Nyquist plots by electrical equivalent circuit modeling establishes that 3-D nanostructure is better represented by constant phase element which accounts for the inhomogeneous electrochemical redox processes. Charge-discharge studies at different current densities establish that kinetics of the redox process in PPy nanotube electrode is due to the limitation on electron transport rather than the diffusive process of electrolyte ions. The PPy nanotube electrodes show deep discharge capability with high coulomb efficiency and long-term charge-discharge cyclic studies show nondegrading performance of the specific areal capacitance tested for 5,000 cycles.