Study of electrochemical behavior of rGO and metal-organic framework nanocomposite electrodes for supercapacitive applications

This research studied the electrochemical performance of reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) and a nanocomposite comprising rGO and Metal-Organic Framework-5 (MOF-5) for supercapacitor applications. The nanocomposite, synthesized through a solvothermal method, aimed to capitalize on the synergistic effects of combining rGO with MOF-5 under normal laboratory conditions without utilizing autoclave. By adjusting the concentration of the oxidizing agent, the oxidation degree of rGO was effectively regulated, thereby influencing its structural properties. Utilizing the optimized rGO, electrodes were fabricated for both rGO and MOF5-rGO configurations. Electrochemical studies were carried out using a three-electrode (3E) system with a 6M KOH electrolyte. The MOF-5, reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and MOF5-rGO nanocomposite samples were characterized using x-ray powder diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to determine their chemical composition and structural information. The Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) spectra show low internal resistance (Rs) and charge transfer resistance (Rct), indicating higher conductivity of rGO and nanocomposite. The rGO electrode in the 3E system showed a specific capacitance of 65 Fg-1 whereas MOF5-rGO displayed 73 Fg-1 at a current density of 1.2 Ag-1. MOF5-rGO nanocomposite demonstrates better capacitor retention (96%) compared to rGO (90%) at 5A/g. These results indicate that the MOF5-rGO sample is a promising electrode for supercapacitor application.