Self-Assembled and One-Step Synthesis of Interconnected 3D Network of Fe₃O₄/Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanosheets Hybrid for High-Performance Supercapacitor Electrode

Abstract

In the present work, we have synthesized three-dimensional (3D) reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (rGO NSs) containing iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄ NPs) hybrids (3D Fe₃O₄/rGO) by one-pot microwave approach. Structural and morphological studies reveal that the as-synthesized Fe₃O₄/rGO hybrids were composed of faceted Fe₃O₄ NPs induced into the interconnected network of rGO NSs. The morphologies and structures of the 3D hybrids have been characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS). The electrochemical studies were analyzed by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, which demonstrate superior electrochemical performance as supercapacitors electrode application. The specific capacitances of 3D hybrid materials was 455 F g^-1 at the scan rate of 8 mV s^-1, which is superior to that of bare Fe₃O₄ NPs. Additionally, the 3D hybrid shows good cycling stability with a retention ratio of 91.4 after starting from ∼190 cycles up to 9600 cycles. These attractive results suggest that this 3D Fe₃O₄/rGO hybrid shows better performance as an electrode material for high-performance supercapacitors.