Graphene-based Composites for Electrochemical Energy Storage

Graphene-based electrodes for electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices are studied. It exhibits excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical strength, and can be synthesized in a number of ways. Most syntheses involve first oxidizing graphite to graphene oxide (GO), a widely used method referred to as Hummers Method. The GO can be subsequently reduced in a number of ways by UV irradiation or thermal treatment, sonolysis, or chemical treatment with a strong reducing agent such as hydrazine6 and is referred to a reduced graphene oxide (RGO). Graphene offers many advantages over using typical Li ion battery electrode materials. The use of carbon families in conjunction with graphene as anode materials was also shown to yield enhanced Li+ storage. Graphene presents unique opportunities to the scientific community through its diverse and varied properties, which show promise to enhance many catalytic, photoelectrochemical, and electrochemical processes.