Three-dimensional nickel foam/graphene/NiCo2O4 as high-performance electrodes for supercapacitors

Abstract

A facile and efficient two-step method for the decoration of graphene sheets and nickel cobalt oxide (NiCo2O4) nanoparticles on conducting nickel foam was developed. First, graphene and a bimetallic (Ni, Co) hydroxide precursor were deposited on a Ni foam support by electrodeposition followed by a thermal transformation of the bimetallic hydroxide to NiCo2O4. The graphene layer with a thickness of a few nanometers was decorated with NiCo2O4 nanoparticles, ranging in size from 3 to 5 nm. The nickel foam electrode supported graphene and NiCo2O4 exhibited rapid electron and ion transport, large electroactive surface area, and excellent structural stability. The specific capacitance of the obtained electrode was as high as 1950 F g−1 at a high current density of 7.5 A g−1, suggesting its promising applications as an efficient electrode for electrochemical capacitors.