Highly stretchable reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) electrodes for energy storage devices

By Hyeon Taek Jeong and Byung Chul Kim and Michael J. Higgins and Gordon G. Wallace
Published in Electrochimica Acta NULL 2015

Abstract

We report on the fabrication of reduced graphene oxide/single-walled carbon nanotubes (rGO/SWNTs) electrodes deposited onto stretchable polyurethane via spray coating. The electrochemical properties of the rGO/SWNTs electrodes were compared to pure rGO and \SWNT\ electrodes. The highest capacitance value obtained for the unstretched rGO/SWNTs electrode was 265 F g?1 in 1 M \H2SO4\ at 5 mV s?1, which decreased to 219 and 162 F g?1 after 50 and 100 stretching cycles (at strain), respectively. The rGO/SWNTs composite electrode also retained approximately 75% of its initial capacitance under constant strain. Further characterization, including galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), showed that the rGO/SWNTs electrode retained a well-defined capacitive response after repetitive stretching to strain. Overall, the rGO/SWNTs composite electrode showed enhanced electrochemical properties in comparison to rGO and \SWNTs\ electrodes. Approximately 65% of the initial capacitance for the rGO/SWNTs composite electrode is retained after 100 stretching cycles and then maintained up to the 3000th \CV\ cycle, making the electrodes a potential option for stretchable energy storage applications.

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