Ultrathin planar broadband absorber through effective medium design

Ultrathin planar absorbers hold promise in solar energy systems because they can reduce the material,fabrication,and system cost.Here,we present a general strategy of effective medium design to realize ultrathin planar broadband absorbers.The absorber consists of two ultrathin absorbing dielectrics to designan effective absorbing medium,a transparent layer,and metallic substrate.Compared with previous studies,this strategy provides another dimension of freedom to enhance optical absorption;therefore,destructive interference can be realized over a broad spectrum.To demonstrate the power and simplicity of this strategy,we both experimentally and theoretically characterized an absorber with 5-nm-thick Ge,10-nm-thick Ti,and 50-nm-thick SiO2 films coated on an Ag substrate fabricated using simple deposition methods.Absorptivity higher than 80％ was achieved in 15-nm-thick (1/50 of the center wavelength) Ge and Ti films from 400 nm to near 1 μm.As an application example,we experimentally demonstrated that the absorber exhibited a normal solar absorptivity of 0.8 with a normal emittance of 0.1 at 500 ℃,thus demonstrating its potential in solar thermal systems.The effective medium design strategy is general and allows material versatility,suggesting possible applications in real-time optical manipulation using dynamic materials.     

Advanced asymmetrical supercapacitors based on graphene hybrid materials

Supercapacitors operating in aqueous solutions are low cost energy storage devices with high cycling stability and fast charging and discharging capabilities, but generally suffer from low energy densities. Here, we grow Ni(OH)₂ nanoplates and RuO₂ nanoparticles on high quality graphene sheets in order to maximize the specific capacitances of these materials. We then pair up a Ni(OH)₂/graphene electrode with a RuO₂/graphene electrode to afford a high performance asymmetrical supercapacitor with high energy and power density operating in aqueous solutions at a voltage of ∼1.5 V. The asymmetrical supercapacitor exhibits significantly higher energy densities than symmetrical RuO₂-RuO₂ supercapacitors or asymmetrical supercapacitors based on either RuO₂-carbon or Ni(OH)₂-carbon electrode pairs. A high energy density of ∼48 W·h/kg at a power density of ∼0.23 kW/kg, and a high power density of ∼21 kW/kg at an energy density of ∼14 W·h/kg have been achieved with our Ni(OH)2/graphene and RuO₂/graphene asymmetrical supercapacitor. Thus, pairing up metal-oxide/graphene and metal-hydroxide/graphene hybrid materials for asymmetrical supercapacitors represents a new approach to high performance energy storage.      

基于海藻制备超级电容器用三维多孔石墨烯

以海藻作为固相碳源,利用海藻对金属离子具有吸附性能的特点,在未进行生物质材料改性的条件下,实现海藻生物质材料对催化剂金属离子的均匀吸附.本文结合原位高温金属催化和化学活化的方法制备三维多孔石墨烯,并研究了其作为超级电容器电极材料的电化学性能.通过扫描电镜、透射电镜、X射线衍射、拉曼光谱、氮气吸附等手段对三维多孔石墨烯的形貌与结构进行表征分析.研究结果表明,制备的三维多孔石墨烯具有片层状三维网络结构,且片层较薄,并具有较高的石墨化程度,其比表面积达到1 700 m~2/g,孔径分布主要在2~10 nm.以该三维多孔石墨烯材料作为超级电容器电极材料,进行电化学性能表征,发现在较低的电压扫速下得到的比电容量为90 F/g,同时,该材料还具有较高的能量密度和功率密度.以海藻为固相碳源制备得到的三维多孔石墨烯材料在超级电容器领域具有一定的应用前景.     

Ultrathin oxide films by atomic layer deposition on graphene

In this paper, a method is presented to create and characterize mechanically robust, free-standing, ultrathin, oxide films with controlled, nanometer-scale thickness using atomic layer deposition (ALD) on graphene. Aluminum oxide films were deposited onto suspended graphene membranes using ALD. Subsequent etching of the graphene left pure aluminum oxide films only a few atoms in thickness. A pressurized blister test was used to determine that these ultrathin films have a Young's modulus of 154 ± 13 GPa. This Young's modulus is comparable to much thicker alumina ALD films. This behavior indicates that these ultrathin two-dimensional films have excellent mechanical integrity. The films are also impermeable to standard gases suggesting they are pinhole-free. These continuous ultrathin films are expected to enable new applications in fields such as thin film coatings, membranes, and flexible electronics.     

pH controlled synthesis of porous graphene sphere and application to supercapacitors

Graphene (GR) has excellent physical and chemical properties, making it promising for application in supercapacitors. In this study, we report the synthesis of spherical GR (SGR) composed of tens of GR sheets and its application in supercapacitors. Graphene oxide (GO) was first reduced in the liquid phase by using L-ascorbic acid (L-AA), an environmentally friendly reducing agent, and then SGR was prepared using the reduced GO colloid by aerosol spray drying. The reduction of GO in the liquid phase was completed in 1?h. The SGR fabricated by the aerosol process ranged from 2 to 4?μm in diameter. The as-prepared SGR fabricated from GO at pH 2 showed a densely packed spherical morphology and porous structure with a specific surface area of 150?m²/g. The SGR fabricated from the GO colloid at pH 10 showed an improved specific surface area (216?m²/g) and a higher specific capacitance (182?F/g) than the SGR fabricated at pH 2. Considering the environmentally friendly process, the as-prepared SGR is a highly promising material for supercapacitors.     

Active carbon/graphene hydrogel nanocomposites as a symmetric device for supercapacitors

Activated carbons (ACs) are successfully synthesized from Elaeagnus grain by a simple chemical synthesis methodology and demonstrated as novel, suitable supercapacitor electrode materials for graphene hydrogel (GH)/AC nanocomposites. GH/AC nanocomposites are synthesized via hydrothermal process at temperature of 180°C. The low-temperature thermal exfoliation approach is convenient for mass production of graphene hydrogel (GH) at low cost and it can be used as electrode material for energy storage applications. The GH/AC nanocomposites exhibit better electrochemical performances than the pure GH. Electrochemical performance of the electrodes is studied by cyclic voltammetry, and galvanostatic charge-discharge measurements in 1.0 M H₂SO₄ solution. A remarkable specific capacitance of 602.36 Fg^?1 (based on GH/AC nanocomposites for 0.4 g AC) is obtained at a scan rate of 1 mVs^?1 in 1 M H₂SO₄ solution and 155.78 Fg^?1 for GH. The specific capacitance was increased 3.87 times for GH/AC compared to GH electrodes. Moreover, the GH/AC nanocomposites for 0.2 g AC present excellent long cycle life with 99.8% specific capacitance retained after 1000 charge/discharge processes. Herein, ACs prepared from Elaeagnus grain are synthesized GH and AC supercapacitor device for high-performance electrical energy storage devices as a promising substitute to conventional electrode materials for EDLCs.     

Research on the structure-performance relationship of thermal reduced graphene oxide based supercapacitors

Journal of Materials Science - The electrochemical performance of RGO-based super-capacitors are highly dependent on the exfoliation and surface functionalization degree of RGO, which of them...     

Highly conductive and porous activated reduced graphene oxide films for high-power supercapacitors

We present a novel method to prepare highly conductive, free-standing, and flexible porous carbon thin films by chemical activation of reduced graphene oxide paper. These flexible carbon thin films possess a very high specific surface area of 2400 m(2) g(-1) with a high in-plane electrical conductivity of 5880 S m(-1). This is the highest specific surface area for a free-standing carbon film reported to date. A two-electrode supercapacitor using these carbon films as electrodes demonstrated an excellent high-frequency response, an extremely low equivalent series resistance on the order of 0.1 ohm, and a high-power delivery of about 500 kW kg(-1). While higher frequency and power values for graphene materials have been reported, these are the highest values achieved while simultaneously maintaining excellent specific capacitances and energy densities of 120 F g(-1) and 26 W h kg(-1), respectively. In addition, these free-standing thin films provide a route to simplify the electrode-manufacturing process by eliminating conducting additives and binders. The synthetic process is also compatible with existing industrial level KOH activation processes and roll-to-roll thin-film fabrication technologies.     

超级电容器用CeO_2-MnO/3D石墨烯复合材料的制备

以西瓜瓜瓤为碳源,采用两步碳化法制备三维石墨烯(3D-Fiberbased Graphene,3D G)材料,并使用水热法制备了CeO_2-MnO/3DG复合材料,以期获得比电容高,循环寿命好的石墨烯超级电容器电极材料。结果表明:3DG材料具有较高比表面积,最高可达到332m~2·g~(-1)。CeO_2-MnO/3DG复合材料具有三维导电网络结构,金属氧化物颗粒在石墨烯片层间生长均匀,粒径在10nm左右。电化学测试结果显示:在0.5 mol·L~(-1)的Na_2SO_4溶液中,电流密度1A·g~(-1),当摩尔比MnO∶CeO_2=4∶1,复合负载量在80%时得到的CeO_2-MnO/3D G复合材料拥有最高比电容,达308.5F·g~(-1),经过1 000次循环充放电测试比电容保持率为95.5%。CeO_2-MnO/3DG复合材料电化学性能的提高主要是因为两种金属氧化物复合负载与石墨烯的协同作用。     

Synthesis and super capacitance of goethite/reduced graphene oxide for supercapacitors

We report a one-step fabrication of α-iron oxyhydroxide/reduced graphene oxide (α-FeOOH/rGO) composites, in which the ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄·7H₂O) are used as the iron raw and reducing agent to grow goethite (α-FeOOH) and reduce graphite oxide (GO) to rGO in the same time. The morphology, composition and microstructure of the as-obtained samples are systematically characterized by thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and FT-IR. Moreover, their electrochemical properties are investigated using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge techniques. The specific capacitance of 452 F g⁻¹ is obtained at a specific current of 1 A g⁻¹ when the mass ratio of α-FeOOH to rGO is up to 80.3:19.7. In addition, the α-FeOOH/rGO composite electrodes exhibit the excellent rate capability (more than 79% retention at 10 A g⁻¹ relative to 1 A g⁻¹) and well cycling stability (13% capacitance decay after 1000 cycles). These results suggest the importance and great potential of α-FeOOH/rGO composites in the applications of high-performance energy-storage.     

The synthesis of graphene oxide nanostructures for supercapacitors: a simple route

In this work, we report a simple strategy for synthesis of graphene oxide nanostructures with various morphologies including single-, few-layer, and three-dimensional networks. Morphology control is achieved by adding different amounts of Ni²⁺ into a one-step hydrothermal process. The involved growth mechanisms for the morphology control are discussed. A random arrangement of graphene oxide nanosheets is suggested to induce the networks’ formation. Ni²⁺ facilitates the formation of graphene oxide’s preferential face-to-face overlapping structure, and high Ni²⁺ concentrations render adjacent graphene oxide sheets to combine each other tightly to form closely packed, layered structures. Compared with single-, few-layer graphene oxide, the electrode prepared by three-dimensional networks has a mass specific capacitance of 352 F g^?1 at v = 5 mV s^?1, which is much higher than that of recently reported three-dimensional graphene oxide nanostructures (240 F g^?1).     

Surfactant-assisted synthesis of reduced graphene oxide/polyaniline composites by gamma irradiation for supercapacitors

A series of graphene materials are prepared by intercalation of graphene oxide (GO) with different surfactants, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), n-octyltrimethylammonium bromide, tetramethylammonium bromide, and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, subsequently by γ-ray induced reduction in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) at room temperature. GO can be reduced by the electrons generated from the radiolysis of NMP under γ-ray irradiation, and reduced GO is simultaneously functionalized by the radiolytic product of NMP. Cationic surfactant CTAB with longer alkyl chains can effectively promote the reduction process of GO by preventing the aggregation of graphene sheets, which has been testified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses. Furthermore, when the as-prepared graphene/polyaniline composites are used for supercapacitor electrode materials, there is a highest specific capacitance of 484 F g^?1 at a current density of 0.1 A g^?1 for the graphene produced in the presence of cationic surfactant CTAB.     

氢氧化镍/还原氧化石墨烯复合物的超级电容性能

采用共沉淀法制备了氢氧化镍/还原氧化石墨烯复合材料,并以此为电极研究了其超级电容性能。实验发现,六方氢氧化镍纳米片被成功插入到还原氧化石墨烯的层间,这有效抑制了还原氧化石墨烯和氢氧化镍的团聚,提高了电极的稳定性。当氢氧化镍和还原氧化石墨烯的质量比为5.5∶1时,显示了最佳的电化学性能:在-0.1~0.37V的电位窗口,1A/g的电流密度下,比电容高达1 036F/g;4A/g的电流密度下快速循环3 000次后,仍然保持70%的比电容。     

NiCo2S4 nanoparticles grown on reduced graphene oxides for high-performance asymmetric supercapacitors

The nanostructures of reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/NiCo₂S₄ are prepared using the simple hydrothermal method and the thermal treatment process, which could provide good conductivity and ideal specific surface area. The rGO/NiCo₂S₄ electrode shows a maximum specific capacitance of 1059 F g⁻¹, excellent rate capability, and good cycle life. Furthermore, the three dimensional structures of rGO/MnO (3D rGO/MnO) are also synthesized by the hydrothermal method and the thermal treatment process, which have the high specific surface area and good conductivity. The rGO/MnO electrode exhibits a maximum specific capacitance of 469 F g⁻¹. A rGO/MnO//rGO/NiCo₂S₄ asymmetric supercapacitors (ASC) is assembled using 2 M KOH solution as electrolyte, rGO/NiCo₂S₄ as positive electrode and rGO/MnO as negative electrode. The rGO/MnO//rGO/NiCo₂S₄ ASC shows an energy density of 38.8 Wh kg⁻¹ at a power density of 0.4 kW kg⁻¹ and a good cycle life, which provides a possibility toward actual application in energy-storage systems.     

Active electrode materials of graphene balls and their composites for supercapacitors: A perspective view

In recent years, supercapacitors have received considerable research attention for energy storage systems due to their high-power density, fast charge-discharge processes, and long cycle life. The superior performance of supercapacitors is considerably dependent on the electrode materials. Among electrode materials, graphene balls (GBs) and their composites have recently attracted strong interest. They are considered ideal for the fabrication of electrode materials because of their unique characteristics of large specific surface area and superior electric conductivity, which should make them very effective for use in supercapacitors. In particular, GBs and their microstructured composites have recently been proven promising candidates for supercapacitor electrodes. Their unique 3D morphology provides highly porous graphene structures for decoration with active materials. In this perspective, recent studies were highlighted and discussed that focus on GBs and their composites for the potential energy storage devices called supercapacitors, (i.e., electric double layer capacitors and pseudocapacitors).