Ultra small and highly dispersed Fe3O4 nanoparticles anchored on reduced graphene for supercapacitor application

Here we present a facile and efficient process for the preparation of Fe3O4 nanoparticles (about an average diameter of 5 nm) grown on reduced graphene oxide (Fe3O4/rGO) with high supercapacitive properties. The novel composite with high surface area and mesoporous structure are prepared by a one-step hydrothermal method with the help of glucose, which can serve as a binder for the assembly of Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) and a reducing agent for the reduction of graphene oxide simultaneously. Benefiting from the combined rGO and Fe3O4 in such a unique structure, the Fe3O4/rGO electrode material possesses a high specific capacitance of 241 F/g at 1 A/g within the potential range from -1 to 0 V and an excellent cycling stability of 79.2% after 1000 cycles at a high current density of 10 A/g. These results demonstrate that such synthetic route may open a new pathway to design and fabricate other materials with largely enhanced electrochemical properties, which can be of great potential in the development of energy storage systems. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.