Microwave-assisted thin reduced graphene oxide-cobalt oxide nanoparticles as hybrids for electrode materials in supercapacitor

Abstract

In recent times, microwave synthetic strategies have been considered as one of the facile methods for the development of efficient supercapacitor electrodes. Reduced graphene oxide containing cobalt oxide (rGO@Co3O4/CoO) hybrids were synthesized via single-step microwave irradiation in which the uniform Co3O4/CoO nanoparticles were attached in thin layers of rGO nanosheets. During short time of single-step microwave irradiation process, three kind of phenomena occurs as (i) reduction and exfoliation of graphite oxide into rGO nanosheets, (ii) decomposition of cobalt(II) acetate into Co3O4/CoO nanoparticles and (iii) rGO nanosheets covers the Co3O4/CoO nanoparticles. The BET surface area and pore diameter range of rGO@Co3O4/CoO hybrids were 133.2 m2g−1 and 5–45 nm, respectively, which shows the mesoporous structure formation of hybrids. Electrochemical evaluations of rGO@Co3O4/CoO hybrids as electrode materials for supercapacitor shows specific capacitance of 276.1 F g−1 (scan rate of 5 mV s−1) and long-term cycling stability as 82.37% capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles (scan rate of 60 mV s−1) in 0.1 M KOH electrolyte solution. The Co3O4/CoO nanoparticles with conducting scaffolds rGO structure will pave an encouraging alternative for electrode materials and suggesting good potential for supercapacitors applications.