Self-assembled activated carbon sandwiched graphene film for symmetrical supercapacitors

Abstract

Activated carbon (AC) particles sandwiched reduced graphene oxide sheets (rGO) film has been successfully fabricated via a facile self-assemble approach. The as-formed AC/rGO film is self-standing, flexible and mechanically robust, allowing to be transferred to any substrate on demand without rupture. Since AC particles effectively suppressed the restacking of the rGO sheet, AC/rGO film exhibits loose layer-by-layer stacking structures with various gaps between AC particles and rGO sheets, which is different from compact structures of pure graphene films. The as-formed gaps provide fast diffusion channels for electrolyte ions and enhanced accessible surface area of rGO. Therefore, the AC/rGO electrode delivers improved electrochemical performance over the voltage range of 0.0—3.0 V. This work offers a promising strategy to design free-standing supercapacitor electrodes based on traditional nanocarbon materials.

References

[1] WangX-f, LuX-h, LiuB, ChenD, TongY-x, ShenG-zhen. Flexible energy-storage devices: Design consideration and recent progress [J]. Advanced Materials, 2014, 26(28): 4763-4782

[2] LiuW, SongM-s, KongB, CuiYi. Flexible and stretchable energy storage: Recent advances and future perspectives [J]. Advanced Materials, 2017, 29(1): 1603436-1603469

[3] LiL, WuZ, YuanS, ZhangX-bo. Advances and challenges for flexible energy storage and conversion devices and systems [J]. Energy Environmental Science, 2014, 7(7): 2101-2122

[4] ConwayB EElectrochemical supercapacitors: Scientific fundamentals and technological applications [M], 1999, Kluwer, The Netherlands, Springer

[5] MillerJ R, SimonP. Electrochemical capacitors for energy management [J]. Science, 2008, 321(5889): 651-652

[6] SimonP, GogotsiY. Materials for electrochemical capacitors [J]. Nature Materials, 2008, 7(11): 845-854

[7] LiuL, FengY, WuWei. Recent progress in printed flexible solid-state supercapacitors for portable and wearable energy storage [J]. Journal of Power Sources, 2019, 410-411(15): 69-77

[8] WangG-p, ZhangL, ZhangJ-jun. A review of electrode materials for electrochemical supercapacitors [J]. Chemical Society Reviews, 2012, 41(2): 797-828

[9] GonzalezA, GoikoleaE, BarrenaJ A, MysY K R. Review on supercapacitors: technologies and materials [J]. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2016, 58: 1189-1206

[10] HuangY, LiangJ-j, ChenY-sheng. An overview of the applications of graphene-based materials in supercapacitors [J]. Small, 2012, 8(12): 1805-1834

[11] StollerM D, ParkS J, ZhuY-w, AnJ H, RuoffR S. Graphene-based ultracapacitors [J]. Nano Letters, 2008, 8(10): 3498-3502

[12] GwonH, KimH S, LeeK U, SeoD H, ParkY C, LeeY S. Flexible energy storage devices based on graphene paper [J]. Energy and Environmental Science, 2011, 4(4): 1277-1280

[13] El-KadyM F, ShaoY-l, KanerR B. Graphene for batteries, supercapacitors and beyond [J]. Nature Reviews Materials, 2016, 1(7): 16033

[14] GuoX-t, ZhengS-s, ZhangG-x, XiaoX, LiX-r, XuY-x, XueH-g, PangHuan. Nanostructured graphene-based materials for flexible energy storage [J]. Energy Storage Materials, 2017, 9: 150-169

[15] YangZ-f, TianJ-r, YinZ-f, CuiC-j, QianW-z, WeiFei. Carbon nanotube- and graphene-based nanomaterials and applications in high-voltage supercapacitor: A review [J]. Carbon, 2019, 141467-480

[16] CaoX-b, QiD-p, YinS-y, BuJ, LiF-j, GohC F, ZhangS, ChenX-dong. Ambient fabrication of large-area graphene films via a synchronous reduction and assembly strategy [J]. Advanced Materials, 2013, 25(21): 2957-2962

[17] LiuG-p, JinW-q, XuN-ping. Graphene-based membranes [J]. Chemical Society Reviews, 2015, 44(15): 5016-5030

[18] WuQ, XuY-x, YaoZ-y, LiuA-r, ShiG-quan. Supercapacitors based on flexible graphene/ polyaniline nanofiber composite films [J]. ACS Nano, 2010, 4(4): 1963-1970

[19] ShiQ-r, ChaY W, SongY, LeeJ I, ZhuC-z, LiX-y, SongM K, DuD, LinY-he. 3D graphene-based hybrid materials: Synthesis and applications in energy storage and conversion [J]. Nanoscale, 2016, 8(34): 15414-15447

[20] LuX-j, DouH, GaoB, YuanC-z, YangS-d, HaoL, ShenL-f, ZhangX-gang. A flexible graphene/multiwalled carbon nanotube film as a high performance electrode material for supercapacitors [J]. Electrochimica Acta, 2011, 56(14): 5115-5121

[21] SunY-q, WuQ, XuY-x, BaiH, LiC, ShiG-quan. Highly conductive and flexible mesoporous graphitic films prepared by graphitizing the composites of graphene oxide and nanodiamond [J]. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 2011, 21(20): 7154-7160

[22] SarkerA K, HongJ D. Layer-by-layer self-assembled multilayer films composed of graphene/polyaniline bilayers: High-energy electrode materials for supercapacitors [J]. Langmuir, 2012, 28(34): 12637-12646

[23] WangD-n, YangJ-l, LiX-f, GengD-s, LiR-y, CaiM, ShamT K, SunX-liang. Layer by layer assembly of sandwiched graphene/SnO₂ nanorod/carbon nanostructures with ultrahigh lithium ion storage properties [J]. Energy Environmental Science, 2013, 6(10): 2900-2906

[24] SongW-l, CaoM-s, LuM-m, BiS, WangC-y, LiuJ, YuanJ, FanL-zhen. Flexible graphene/polymer composite films in sandwich structures for effective electromagnetic interference shielding [J]. Carbon, 2014, 66: 67-76

[25] YuD-s, DaiL-ming. Self-assembled graphene/ carbon nanotube hybrid films for supercapacitors [J]. Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2010, 1(2): 467-470

[26] LiX, TangY, SongJ-h, YangW, WangM-s, ZhuC-z, ZhaoW-g, ZhengJ-m, LinY-he. Self-supporting activated carbon/ carbon nanotube/reduced graphene oxide flexible electrode for high performance supercapacitor [J]. Carbon, 2018, 129: 236-244

[27] SongL, CaoX-b, LiL, WangQ-d, YeH-t, GuL, MaoC-j, SongJ-m, ZhangS-y, NiuH-lin. General method for large-area films of carbon nanomaterials and application of a self-assembled carbon nanotube film as a high-performance electrode material for an all-solid-state supercapacitor [J]. Advanced Functional Materials, 2017, 27(21): 1700474

[28] YeG, YuZ-y, LiY-m, LiL, SongL, GuL, CaoX-bo. Efficient treatment of brine wastewater through a flow-through technology integrating desalination and photocatalysis [J]. Water Research, 2019, 157: 134-144

[29] LiuP, HeW-q, LuA-xian. Preparation of low-temperature sintered high conductivity inks based on nanosilver self-assembled on surface of graphene [J]. Journal of Central South University, 2019, 262953-2960

[30] ZhouX-z, LuH-j, TangX-c, ZengY-p, YuXin. Facile synthesis of Sb@Sb₂O₃/reduced graphene oxide composite with superior lithium-storage performance [J]. Journal of Central South University, 2019, 26: 1493-1502

[31] OuX, YangC-h, XiongX-h, ZhengF-h, PanQ-c, JinC, LiuM-l, HuangKevin. A new rGO-overcoated Sb₂Se₃ nanorods anode for Na⁺ battery: In situ x-ray diffraction study on a live sodiation/desodiation process [J]. Advanced Functional Materials, 2017, 27(13): 1606242

[32] ZongM, HuangY, ZhaoY, SunX, QuC-h, LuoD-d, ZhengJ-bo. Facile preparation, high microwave absorption and microwave absorbing mechanism of RGO-Fe₃O₄ composites [J]. RSC Advances, 2013, 34523638-23646

[33] DresselhausM S, JorioA, HofmanM, DresselhausG, SaitoR. Perspectives on carbon nanotubes and graphene Raman spectroscopy [J]. Nano Letters, 2010, 10(3): 751-758

[34] WuS-x, LiuC-b, DinhD A, HuiK S, HuiK N, YunJ M, KimK H. Three-dimensional self-standing and conductive MnCO₃@graphene/CNT networks for flexible asymmetric supercapacitors [J]. ACS Sustainable Chemistry Engineering, 2019, 7(11): 9763-9770

[35] ZhangL-l, ZhaoX, StollerM D, ZhuY-w, JiH-x, MuraliS, WuY-p, PeralesS, ClevengerB, RuoffR S. Highly conductive and porous activated reduced graphene oxide films for high-power supercapacitors [J]. Nano Letters, 2012, 12(4): 1806-1812