Preparation and characterization of graphene/NiO nanocomposites

Graphene-based nanocomposites are emerging as a new class of materials that hold promise for many applications. In this article, we present a facile approach for the preparation of graphene/NiO nanocomposites using graphite oxide and nickel chloride as starting materials. The as-synthesized composites were characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform-Infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry analyses. It was shown that graphene sheets were decorated by the in situ-formed NiO nanoparticles to form a film-like composite structure and as a result, the restacking of the as-reduced graphene sheets was effectively prevented. The NiO-coated graphene nanocomposites can be expected to remarkably improve the electrochemical properties of NiO and would be the promising candidates for a variety of applications in future nanotechnology.