Effect of reducing agent on graphene synthesis and its influence on charge storage towards supercapacitor applications. (1st September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ramachandran, Rajendran; Saranya, Murugan; Velmurugan, Venugopal; Raghupathy, Bala P.C.; Jeong, Soon Kwan; Grace, Andrews Nirmala
• Is Part Of: Applied energy. Volume 153(2015:Sep. 01)
• Page Start: 22
• Page End: 31
• Publication Date: 2015-09-01
• Subjects: Graphene -- Sodium borohydride -- Supercapacitors -- Specific capacitance; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy conservation -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.02.091
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-2619

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Chemical reduction route was adopted for graphene preparation. Electrochemical measurements were carried out in 6 M KOH. Better electrochemical properties obtained for graphene than graphene oxide. A high specific capacitance of 284.3 F/g was observed for SR1:10. Abstract: A simple chemical route was adopted for the preparation of graphene by chemical reduction route using sodium borohydride (NaBH4 ) as a reducing agent. A systematic study was done to show the effect of NaBH4 on the reduction and the obtained graphene samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Atomic force microcopy and High resolution transmission electron microscopy. Better reduction of GO was observed at GO and NaBH4 ratio of 1:10 (denoted as SR1:10). Further, the investigation was emphasized to show the effect of the above GO to reductant ratio on its charge storage properties. Electrochemical measurements were carried out in 6 M KOH electrolyte and the results show that the capacitance performance was increased in the order of GO < SR1:8 < SR1:4 < SR1:12 < SR1:10. A high specific capacitance of 284.3 F/g was observed for SR1:10 electrode at 5 mV/s scan rate could be due to better electrical conductivity of sample. The ratio of GO and NaBH4 was optimized to 1:10 for high degree reduction of graphene, which has higher capacitance towards supercapacitor applications.