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Layer-by-layer nanostructured supercapacitor electrodes consisting of ZnO nanoparticles and multi-walled carbon nanotubes

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Abstract

The study of nanostructures combining carbon and metal oxide materials in a synergistic way is propitious to achieve new nanocomposites with enhanced capacitive electrochemical properties for energy storage applications such as supercapacitors. Here, we investigate the electrochemical properties of electrodes containing nanostructured films made from layer-by-layer (LbL) multilayers consisting of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnONPs) complexed with polyallylamine hydrochloride (PAH) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) for supercapacitor applications. The surface of PAH–ZnO/MWNT LbL films was analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), which displayed a nanofilm with high superficial area and porosity due to the high interconnection of MWNTs and ZnONPs in the film’s multilayers. Cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge–discharge measurements were used to evaluate the electrochemical properties of the films. A high observed areal capacitance of ca. 1000 μF/cm2 was achieved for a 10-bilayer LbL film at a current density of 1.0 × 10−5 A/cm2. Furthermore, the PAH–ZnO/MWNT LbL film exhibited a high cycling stability with a capacitive retention of 96% over 1000 cycles. These results demonstrate that the nanostructured PAH–ZnO/MWNT LbL film may be explored as supercapacitors electrodes for energy storage applications.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully thank the financial support to the Brazilian Foundations CAPES (Grant 88881.119924/2016-01), FAPEMIG (Grant APQ-00756-16), and Rede Mineira de Química (FAPEMIG-CEX-RED-00010-14). We also thank Anish Patel of Texas A&M University for helpful discussion, and Prof. Anielle C. A. Silva and Prof. Noelio O. Dantas of Federal University of Uberlândia for providing ZnONPs samples for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Exact Sciences, Natural and Education, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, 38064-200, Brazil

    Vinícius O. Fávero, Danilo A. Oliveira & José R. Siqueira Jr.

  2. Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Jodie L. Lutkenhaus & José R. Siqueira Jr.

  3. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Jodie L. Lutkenhaus

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  1. Vinícius O. Fávero
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  2. Danilo A. Oliveira
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  3. Jodie L. Lutkenhaus
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  4. José R. Siqueira Jr.
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Correspondence to José R. Siqueira Jr..

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Fávero, V.O., Oliveira, D.A., Lutkenhaus, J.L. et al. Layer-by-layer nanostructured supercapacitor electrodes consisting of ZnO nanoparticles and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. J Mater Sci 53, 6719–6728 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-018-2010-4

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