Preparation and Electrochemical Performance of Graphene/Carbon Aerogels

doi:10.15541/jim20150043

Abstract

Abstract:

Graphene/carbon aerogels (RF) were prepared via a Sol-Gel process in graphene oxide (GO) solution using resorcinol (R) and formaldehyde (F) as carbon precursor. The structure, morphology and pore-size distribution of the samples were characterized by XRD, Raman spectrum, SEM and N₂ adsorption desorption method. The results indicate that graphene can act as nucleation and growth sites for carbon aerogels. At low mass loading level of RF, a macroporous structure is formed, and the structure of carbon aerogels originates from sheet-structure of GO precursor. With increasing the mass of RF, RF carbon aerogel results in dispersed and thickened carbon platelets. At high mass loading levels, carbon spheres are obtained. Meanwhile, with increasing the mass of RF, the specific surface area of the aerogel increases firstly and then decreases, reaching the maximum value of 841 m²/g when w(GO)/w(RF)=1︰50. Electrochemical measurements show that GO/RF-100 has the highest specific capacitance of 169 F/g in 6 mol/L KOH aqueous electrolytes.

Key words: graphene oxide, carbon aerogel, pore structure, electrochemical performance

CLC Number:

TQ152

YI Shang-Qi, LIU Hong-Bo, XIA Xiao-Hong, HUANG Gui-Rong, MA Qian, CHEN Yu-Xi. Preparation and Electrochemical Performance of Graphene/Carbon Aerogels[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2015, 30(7): 757-762.

Figures/Tables 10

Fig. 1 XRD patterns of C-GO, RF and GO/RF-100

Fig. 2 Raman spectra of C-GO, RF and GO/RF-100

Fig. 3 SEM images of C-GO(a) and RF(b)

Fig. 4 SEM images of graphene/carbon aerogels (a) GO/RF-10; (b) GO/RF-50; (c) GO/RF-100; (d) GO/RF-150

Fig. 5 TEM images of GO/RF-10

Table 1 Pore structure parameters of graphene/carbon aerogels

Samples	S_BET/ (m²·g^-1)	V_tot/ (cm³·g^-1)	S_mic/ (m²·g^-1)	V_mic/ (cm³·g^-1)	(V_meso/V_tot)/%	D/nm
C-GO	79	0.12	53	0.05	58.3	6.30
GO/RF-10	303	0.61	62	0.03	95.1	7.99
GO/RF-50	841	0.46	705	0.31	32.6	2.20
GO/RF-100	791	0.46	656	0.29	37.0	2.34
GO/RF-150	777	1.42	460	0.20	85.9	7.30
RF	766	0.83	436	0.19	77.1	4.36

Fig. 6 N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms of graphene/caron aerogels

Fig. 7 DFT pore size distribution of graphene/carbon aerogels

Fig. 8 Charge-discharge curves of RF and GO/RF-100

Fig. 9 Specific capacitance at various scan rate of capacitors made from graphene/carbon aerogels

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