Direct synthesis of RGO/Cu2O composite films on Cu foil for supercapacitors

Reduced graphene oxide/cuprous oxide (RGO/Cu2O) composite films were directly synthesized on the surface of copper foil substrates through a straight redox reaction between GO and Cu foil via a hydrothermal approach. Characterization of the resultant composites with X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) confirms the formation of Cu2O and reduction of GO, in which Cu2O nanoparticles were well covered by RGO. The resultant composites (referred to as RGO/Cu2O/Cu) were directly used as electrodes for supercapacitors, and their electrochemical performance was assessed by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectrometry (EIS) in 1 M KOH aqueous solution. A specific capacitance of 98.5 F g(-1) at 1 A g(-1) was obtained, which is much higher than that of pure Cu2O prepared under the same conditions, due to the presence of RGO. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.