CuO Nanoparticles/Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) Nanocomposites for Flexible Supercapacitors

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) nanocomposites were synthesized by a simple in-situ co-precipitation technique. MWCNTs networks acted as an ideal supporter for active material and permitted formation of free standing hybrid nanocomposite in the sheet form. Structural properties of CuONPs/MWCNTs nanocomposites were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). By using three-electrode system, the electrochemical performance of the CuONPs/MWCNTs nanocomposite was investigated. The heat treated sample CuONPs/MWCNTs(H) yielded specific capacitance of 452.8 Fg(-1) under 10 mV s(-1) scan rate. Also, the nanocomposite exhibited good cyclic stability with 90% capacity retention over 500 charge-discharge cycles. This free-standing thin nanocomposite electrode can serve as a potential candidate as electrode for energy storage systems.