Raman spectroscopy and imaging of Bernal-stacked bilayer graphene synthesized on copper foil by chemical vapour deposition : growth dependence on temperature

We report on the effect of temperature on the growth of bilayer graphene on a copper foil under atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition (AP-CVD). Before characterization of the AP-CVD bilayer graphene, a high-quality graphene flake was obtained from the Kish bulk graphite by micro-mechanical exfoliation and characterized by using Raman spectroscopy and imaging. The Raman data of the exfoliated, high-quality graphene flake show monolayer and bilayer graphenes and were compared with the Raman data of AP-CVD graphene. Raman spectroscopy of AP-CVD graphene shows bilayer films that exhibit predominantly Bernal stacking with an I-2D/I-G ratio of similar to 1. At low growth temperature (similar to 780 degrees C), Raman disorder-related peak intensity in the AP-CVD graphene is high and decreases with an increase in growth temperature to the lowest disorder intensity at similar to 973 degrees C. The selected area electron diffraction and atomic force microscopy average step height analysis showed the thickness of the bilayer graphene. The AP-CVD graphene is uniform at low growth temperatures (similar to 780 degrees C) with a high disorder and becomes non-uniform at high growth temperatures (similar to 867-973 degrees C) with a very low disorder as bilayer graphene evolves to form islands with an average lateral size of <10m. Competition between carbon adatoms supply through dehydrogenation of the CHx species, mobility and desorption rate of the carbon-adatom species for nucleation of the bilayer graphene as a function of temperature is elucidated. This study provides further insight into the growth mechanisms of bilayer graphene by AP-CVD on Cu.The South African Research Chairs Initiative of the South Africa Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation (NRF) (grant no. 97994). MF thanks the University of Pretoria and the NRF for financial support during his PhD studies.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1097-45552018-05-30hj2017Physic

Hydrothermal synthesis of simonkolleite microplatelets on nickel foam-graphene for electrochemical supercapacitors

Nickel foam-graphene (NF-G) was synthesized by chemical vapour deposition followed by facial in situ aqueous chemical growth of simonkolleite (Zn5(OH)8Cl2·H2O) under hydrothermal conditions to form NF-G/simonkolleite composite. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy show the presence of simonkolleite on the NF-G, while scanning and transmission electron microscopies show simonkolleite micro-plates like structure evenly distributed on the NF-G. Electrochemical measurements of the composite electrode give a specific capacitance of 350 Fg−1 at current density of 0.7 Ag−1 for our device measured in three-electrode configuration. The composite also shows a rate capability of ~87% capacitance retention at a high current density of 5Ag−1,which makes it a promising candidate as an electrode material for supercapacitor applications.The University of Pretoria and the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa.http://www.springer.com/chemistry/physical/journal/10008hb2013ai201

Silver nanoparticles decorated on a three-dimensional graphene scaffold for electrochemical applications

Silver metal nanoparticles were decorated by electron beam evaporation on graphene foam (GF) grown by chemical vapour deposition. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy were used to investigate the structure and morphology of the graphene foam/silver nanoparticles (GF/Ag). Both samples were tested as electrodes for supercapacitors. The GF/Ag exhibited a significantly higher capacitive performance, including a specific capacitance value of (~110 Fg-1) and excellent cyclability in a three-electrode electrochemical cell. These results demonstrate that graphene foam could be an excellent platform for metal particles for investigating improved electrochemical performance.The South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARCHi) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the National Research Foundation (NRF).http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jpcshb2013ai201

Functionalized graphene foam as electrode for improved electrochemical storage

We report on a non-covalent functionalization of graphene foam (GF) synthesized via chemical vapour deposition (CVD). The GF was treated with pyrene carboxylic acid (PCA) which acted as a source of oxygen and/or hydroxyl groups attached to the surface of the graphene foam for its electrochemical performance improvement. The modified graphene surface enabled a high pseudocapacitive effect on the GF. A specific capacitance of 133.3 F g−1, power density ∼ 145.3 kW kg−1 and energy density ∼ 4.7 W h kg−1 were achieved based on the functionalized foam in 6 M KOH aqueous electrolyte. The results suggest that non-covalent functionalization might be an effective approach to overcome the restacking problem associated with graphene electrodes and also signify the importance of surface functionalities in graphene-based electrode materials.South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (SARCHi-DST), the National Research Foundation (NRF) and University of Pretoria.http://link.springer.com/journal/100082015-09-30hb201

P3HT:PCBM/nickel-aluminum layered double hydroxide-graphene foam composites for supercapacitor electrodes

In this paper, a simple dip-coating technique is used to deposit a P3HT:PCBM/Nickel Aluminum layered double hydroxide-graphene foam (NiAl-LDH-GF) composite onto a nickel foam (NF) serving as a current collector. A self-organization of the polymer chains is assumed on the Ni-foam grid network during the slow “dark” drying process in normal air. Electrochemical cyclic voltammetry (CV) and constant charge-discharge (CD) measurements show an improvement in the supercapacitive behavior of the pristine P3HT:PCBM by an order of magnitude from 0.29 F cm-2 (P3HT:PCBM nanostructures) to 1.22 F cm-2 (P3HT:PCBM/NiAl-LDH-GF composite structure) resulting from the addition of NiAl-LDH-GF material at a current density of 2 mA cm-2. This capacitance retention after cycling at 10 mA cm-2 also demonstrates the electrode material’s potential for supercapacitor applications.South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the National Research Foundation (NRF).http://link.springer.com/journal/100082015-08-30hb201

Morphological characterization and impedance spectroscopy study of porous 3D carbons based on graphene foam-PVA/phenol-formaldehyde resin composite as an electrode material for supercapacitors

The design and fabrication of porous electrode materials is highly desirable for improving the performance of electrochemical supercapacitors (ECs) and thus, it is important to produce such porous materials in large quantities. In this study, we used a microwave method to produce porous carbonaceous materials designated as graphene foam/polyvinyl alcohol/formaldehyde (GF/PVA/F) and graphene foam-polyvinyl alcohol/phenol-formaldehyde (GF/PVA/PF) from graphene foam, phenol formaldehyde and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to characterize the surface morphology, structural defects and functional groups of the materials respectively. Based on these porous materials, the two symmetrical ECs fabricated exhibited a specific capacitance in the range of 0.62–1.92 F cm 2, phase angles of 81 and 84 and resistor–capacitor (RC) relaxation time constants of 4 and 14 seconds. The physicochemical properties of the electrolyte ion (diffusion) and its influence on the capacitive behavior of the porous materials were elucidated. These encouraging results demonstrate the versatile potential of these porous materials (GF/PVA/F and GF/PVA/PF) in developing high energy storage devices.South African Research Chairs Initiative of the South African Department of Science and Technology (SARCHi-DST), the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the University of Pretoria.http://www.rsc.org/advanceshb201

Microwave assisted synthesis of MnO2 on nickel foam-graphene for electrochemical capacitor

A green chemistry approach (hydrothermal microwave irradiation) has been used to deposit manganese oxide on nickel foam-graphene. The 3D graphene was synthesized using nickel foam template by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique. Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron and transmission electron microscopies (SEM and TEM) have been used to characterize structure and surface morphology of the composite, respectively. The Raman spectroscopy measurements on the samples reveal that 3D graphene consists of mostly few layers with low defect density. The composite was tested in a three electrode configuration for electrochemical capacitor, and exhibited a specific capacitance of 305 F g−1 at a current density of 1Ag−1 and showed excellent cycling stability. The obtained results demonstrate that microwave irradiation technique could be a promising approach to synthesis graphene based functional materials for electrochemical applications.The South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (SARCHi-DST) and the National Research Foundation (NRF). A. Bello, M. Fabiane, and O.O. Fashedemi acknowledge financial support from University of Pretoria and NRF for PhD bursaries.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/electactahb2016ChemistryPhysic

Chemical adsorption of NiO nanostructures on nickel foam-graphene for supercapacitor applications

Few-layer graphene was synthesized on a nickel foam template by chemical vapor deposition. The resulting three-dimensional (3D) graphene was loaded with nickel oxide nanostructures using the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction technique. The composites were characterized and investigated as electrode material for supercapacitors. Raman spectroscopy measurements on the sample revealed that the 3D graphene consisted of mostly few layers, while X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of nickel oxide. The electrochemical properties were investigated using cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and potentiostatic charge–discharge in aqueous KOH electrolyte. The novelty of this study is the use of the 3D porous cell structure of the nickel foam which allows for the growth of highly conductive graphene and subsequently provides support for uniform adsorption of the NiO onto the graphene. The NF-G/NiO electrode material showed excellent properties as a pseudocapacitive device with a high-specific capacitance value of 783 F g-1 at a scan rate of 2 mV s-1. The device also exhibited excellent cycle stability, with 84 % retention of the initial capacitance after 1000 cycles. The results demonstrate that composites made using 3D graphene are versatile and show considerable promise as electrode materials for supercapacitor applications.South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (SARChI-DST) and the National Research Foundation (NRF). University of Pretoria.http://link.springer.com/journal/11665hb201

Pulsed laser deposited Cr2O3 nanostructured thin film on graphene as anode material for lithium-ion batteries

Pulsed laser deposition technique was used to deposit Cr2O3 nanostructured thin film on a chemical vapour deposited few-layer graphene (FLG) on nickel (Ni) substrate for application as anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The experimental results show that graphene can effectively enhance the electrochemical property of Cr2O3. For Cr2O3 thin film deposited on Ni (Cr2O3/Ni), a discharge capacity of 747.8 mA h g-1 can be delivered during the first lithiation process. After growing Cr2O3 thin film on FLG/Ni, the initial discharge capacity of Cr2O3/FLG/Ni was improved to 1234.5 mA h g-1. The reversible lithium storage capacity of the as-grown material is 692.2 mA h g-1 after 100 cycles, which is much higher than that of Cr2O3/Ni (111.3 mA h g-1). This study reveals the differences between the two material systems and emphasizes the role of the graphene layers in improving the electrochemical stability of the Cr2O3 nanostructured thin film.This work was sponsored within the framework of the UNESCO UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences & Nanotechnology and the Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET) by the National Research Foundation of South Africa, the African Laser Centre (ALC), the University of South Arica (UNISA) in collaboration with the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Pretoria, the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa, iThemba LABS and the Abdus Salam ICTP-Trieste, Italy.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jalcom2016-07-31hb2016Physic

Nickel-copper graphene foam prepared by atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition for supercapacitor applications

Please read abstract in the article.The National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa via iThemba LABS Materials Research Department (MRD) and the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) of the Department of Science and Technology and the NRF.http://elsevier.com/locate/surfcoathj2021Physic