A simple route to prepare a Cu2O–CuO–GN nanohybrid for high-performance electrode materials

Abstract

Cu₂O–CuO–GN nanohybrid is prepared by a simple electrochemical method by applying a positive and negative pulse electric signal on a dispersion of a mixture of GO and Cu(NO₃)₂. During the process, reduction of graphene oxide and deposition of Cu₂O–CuO on GN occur simultaneously. The nanohybrid is systematically characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cu₂O–CuO nanoparticles with diameters around 100 nm are uniformly distributed on the GN. In addition, the electrochemical properties of the Cu₂O–CuO–GN nanohybrid are investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge/discharge (DC) and electrochemical impedance spectrometry measurements (EIS). The Cu₂O–CuO–GN nanohybrid shows a higher specific capacitance (222 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹) than that of pure GN (143 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹) prepared under the same conditions. This approach opens up the possibility for fabrication of high-performance GN-based electrode materials.