Superior Electrochemical Performance of Graphene via Carboxyl Functionalization and Surfactant Intercalation

doi:10.15541/jim20150378

Abstract

Abstract:

Superior capacitance of carboxyl functionalized and surfactant-intercalated graphene were prepared by a relatively simple with two-step solution-based processing technique. In comparison to pristine graphene, surface carboxyl functionalization and surfactant intercalation can tailor its specific capacitance from 50 F/g to 230 F/g. Meanwhile, the modified materials retain more than 95% of their capacitance after 800 charge-discharge cycles, demonstrating good cyclic stability. Surfactant itself cannot improve the performance of pristine graphene as graphene intercalated with surfactant has a specific capacitance of 45 F/g, however, carboxyl groups can dramatically enhance specific capacitance to 130 F/g. The excellent performance of functionalized graphene emphasizes the importance of controlling its surface chemistry.

Key words: graphene, functionalization, electrochemical performance

CLC Number:

TQ174

YU Jian-Hua, XU Li-Li, ZHU Qian-Qian, WANG Xiao-Xia, YUN Mao-Jin, DONG Li-Feng. Superior Electrochemical Performance of Graphene via Carboxyl Functionalization and Surfactant Intercalation[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2016, 31(2): 220-224.

Figures/Tables 4

Fig. 1 FTIR spectra of various graphene-based samples (PG, PGS, PGC, and PGCS)

Fig. 2 The N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms (a) and the pore size distribution (b) of the samples

Table 1 BET surface areas, pore volumes, and average pore sizes of obtained samples.

Samples	BET surface area/(m²·g^-1)	Pore volume/(cm³·g^-1)	Average pore size/nm
PG PGS PGC PGCS	88.7 74.6 104.6 102.1	0.37 0.37 0.38 0.40	16.8 19.8 14.5 15.8

Fig. 3 (a) CV curves (at 50 mV/s, b) galvanostatic charge/discharge curves (at current density of 1 A/g), (c) nyquist plots of PG, PGS, PGC, and PGCS, and (d) cyclic stability of PCS and PGCS electrodes at current density of 1 A/g (1 mol/L H2SO4 being used as electrolyte)

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