Abstract:
Simonkolleite-graphene foam (SimonK/GF) composite has been synthesized by a facile solvothermal and
environmentally friendly technique with excellent electrochemical properties. The obtained product was
initially analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), X-ray
diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared resonance (FTIR) spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry (CV)
techniques. The microscopy results reveal hexagonal sheets interlaced with each other and adjacent
graphene sheets. The existence of graphene foam in the simonK/GF composite is further confirmed from
the structural and the optical characteristics obtained from XRD and FTIR respectively. The BET results
obtained indicate an improvement in the surface area due to the addition of graphene foam to a value of
39.58 m2 g 1. The N2 adsorption/desorption also shows the presence of active mesopores required for
charge transport. As a promising electrode material for supercapacitors, the composite shows a high
specific capacitance value of 1094 F/g at 1 A/g with a coulombic efficiency of 100% after 1000 cycles. These
results show a potential for adoption of this composite in energy storage applications.
