Nanoforest of 3C–SiC/graphene by laser chemical vapor deposition with high electrochemical performance

Abstract

Nanoforests of 3C–SiC/graphene films are prepared by laser chemical vapor deposition (LCVD). The effectiveness of nanoforest-like 3C–SiC/graphene film as electrode materials for supercapacitors has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge tests in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution. The specific capacitance is 8.533 mF/cm2 at a current density of 20 μA/cm2, which is 15 times higher than of previous reports of composited 3C–SiC/graphene films. The electrode exhibits good rate capability and cycling stability with 90.5% capacitance retention after 10000 cycles. The nanoforest-like 3C–SiC/graphene thick film shows a 3D porous structure with exposed graphene conductive network contributing to the greatly enhanced electrochemical performance in an environmentally aqueous electrolyte. These nanoforest-like 3C–SiC/graphene films can be promising for electrochemical energy storage applications.