Fullerene C60 functionalized Sm2O3@Eu2O3 bimetallic oxides core shell nanocomposites for zeta potential and energy storage applications

Abstract

Nanocomposites of Fullerene C60 (FC60) with lanthanide oxides show better energy storage properties compared with any of them alone. In the present research, we have synthesized FC60 (2, 5 and 10 wt%) anchored on Sm2O3@Eu2O3 bimetallic oxides by simple chemical precipitation method. The FC60:Sm2O3@Eu2O3 core shell nanocomposites (NCs) were characterized by XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM (scanning electron microscopy), EDX (energy dispersive X-ray), UV–visible, XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), and BET (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller) analytical methods. XRD studies revealed mixed phase of monoclinic and orthorhombic crystal structure with irregularly scattered small plate/flake like morphology agglomerated and formed as large grains. Electrochemical supercapacitive behaviour of Sm2O3@Eu2O3 bimetallic oxides showed specific capacitance (SCs) of 665.075F/g in 3 M KOH as electrolyte. The SCs of FC60 (5 wt% and 10 wt%):Sm2O3@Eu2O3 electrode material in 3 M KOH solution was found to be 795.92F/g and 1120F/g at a current density of 1 A/g (scan rate of 10 mV/s). FC60 (10 wt%):Sm2O3@Eu2O3 NCs showed excellent capacitive retention of 90.8 % after 10,000 cycles. The Zeta potential (ζ) studies of FC60:Sm2O3@Eu2O3 NCs showed decrease in the mean Zeta potential (ζ) from 34.23 mV to 11.97 mV with decrease in electrophoretic mobility (2.667 to 0.933 (μm cm/Vs)) attributed to the cationic nature of the FC60:Sm2O3@Eu2O3 NCs. The FC60:Sm2O3@Eu2O3 NCs with high cycle stability and charge density can be a better candidate for high energy storage devices, supercapacitor, dielectric related applications.