Green synthesis of graphene nanosheets/ZnO composites and electrochemical properties

Journal Article · Wed Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · Journal of Solid State Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssc.2011.03.006· OSTI ID:21580101

Zan, Gao ^[1]; Zhanshuang, Li; Bin, Wang; Yanxia, Yan; Qi, Liu ^[1]; Mann, Tom ^[2]; Milin, Zhang ^[1]; Zhaohua, Jiang ^[3]

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1. College of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001 (China)
2. Key Laboratory of Superlight Materials and Surface Technology, Ministry of Education, Harbin 150001 (China)
3. College of Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001 (China)

A green and facile approach was demonstrated to prepare graphene nanosheets/ZnO (GNS/ZnO) composites for supercapacitor materials. Glucose, as a reducing agent, and exfoliated graphite oxide (GO), as precursor, were used to synthesize GNS, then ZnO directly grew onto conducting graphene nanosheets as electrode materials. The small ZnO particles successfully anchored onto graphene sheets as spacers to keep the neighboring sheets separate. The electrochemical performances of these electrodes were analyzed by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectrometry and chronopotentiometry. Results showed that the GNS/ZnO composites displayed superior capacitive performance with large capacitance (62.2 F/g), excellent cyclic performance, and maximum power density (8.1 kW/kg) as compared with pure graphene electrodes. Our investigation highlight the importance of anchoring of small ZnO particles on graphene sheets for maximum utilization of electrochemically active ZnO and graphene for energy storage application in supercapacitors. - Graphical abstract: Glucose was used to synthesize GNS, then ZnO directly grew onto conducting graphene nanosheets as electrode materials for supercapacitor. Results showed that the composites have superior capacitive performance. Highlights: > Graphene nanosheets were synthesized via using glucose as a reducing agent. > The reductant and the oxidized product are environmentally friendly. > ZnO grew onto conducting graphene sheets keeping neighboring sheets separate. > The structure improves the contact between the electrode and the electrolyte. > Results showed that these composites have good electrochemical property.

• OSTI ID: 21580101
• Journal Information: Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Solid State Chemistry Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 184; ISSN 0022-4596; ISSN JSSCBI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ALDEHYDES
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBON
CHALCOGENIDES
ELECTRODES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY STORAGE
GLUCOSE
GRAPHITE
HEXOSES
MINERALS
MONOSACCHARIDES
NANOSTRUCTURES
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PERFORMANCE
POWER DENSITY
REDUCING AGENTS
SACCHARIDES
STORAGE
SYNTHESIS
VOLTAMETRY
ZINC COMPOUNDS
ZINC OXIDES