Synthesis and Electrochemical Characterization of Vanadium Oxide on Carbon Nanotube Film Substrate for Pseudocapacitor Applications

Abstract

An amorphous and hydrous vanadium oxide thin film of approximate thickness was electrochemically prepared onto a carbon nanotube (CNT) film substrate with a three-dimensional porous structure on a nanometer scale (denoted as a film electrode) for pseudocapacitor application. From cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic discharging experiments in an organic electrolyte ( in propylene carbonate), the film electrode showed a specific Li-ion capacitance of at a potential scan rate of and a specific capacity of at a current density of , with respect to the mass of . Compared with prepared onto a Pt plate substrate (denoted as a thin-film electrode), the film electrode showed a threefold higher specific Li-ion capacitance. The improved specific Li-ion capacitance of in the film electrode is attributed to its electrode construction comprising a very thin film of on the conductive CNT film substrate with a three-dimensional nanoporous structure.