Issue 30, 2015

Capacitive behaviour of functionalized carbon nanotube/ZnO composites coated on a glassy carbon electrode

Abstract

An efficient and simple method has been developed to synthesize functionalized multiwall carbon nanotube (FCNTs)/ZnO composites which are employed as supercapacitor (SC) materials. The multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are oxidised in the presence of concentrated HNO3 at 120 °C for 2 h to generate oxygenated functional groups on the tube-ends along with the side walls of FCNTs to enhance their inherent capacitance. The synthesis of FCNTs/ZnO composites has been carried out by solvothermal decomposition of a single source precursor (SSP), ZnCl2(benzscz)2 (benzscz = benzaldehyde semicarbazone). The FCNTs/ZnO composites are well characterized by different techniques viz. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) etc. The FCNTs/ZnO/glassy carbon (GC) electrodes are fabricated by the deposition of FCNTs/ZnO composites on the surface of GC which are further tested for their electrochemical performances by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and chronopotentiometry. The FCNTs/ZnO composite electrodes show better reversible charging/discharging ability and higher capacitance values compared to bare FCNTs and ZnO electrodes due to the synergistic effect of FCNTs and ZnO. Results show that the composite FZ-1 (FCNTs/ZnO (1 : 1)) displays higher capacitance (157 F g−1), maximum energy density (32.15 W h kg−1) and good cycle stability. It retains over 96% of its initial specific capacitance even after 1000 cycles.

Graphical abstract: Capacitive behaviour of functionalized carbon nanotube/ZnO composites coated on a glassy carbon electrode

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
07 Mar 2015
Accepted
20 Jun 2015
First published
23 Jun 2015

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015,3, 15650-15660

Author version available

Capacitive behaviour of functionalized carbon nanotube/ZnO composites coated on a glassy carbon electrode

J. S. Suroshe and S. S. Garje, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015, 3, 15650 DOI: 10.1039/C5TA01725D

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