The solar reduction of graphene oxide on a large scale for high density electrochemical energy storage

Abstract

A green, clean, and rapid process employing sunlight for converting a large quantity of graphene oxide (GO) into reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is presented herein. In this protocol, the sunlight is concentrated using a Fresnel lens and focused on GO, and the heat thus generated reduces GO into rGO within seconds. The reduction process and quality of the Fresnel lens rGO (FrGO) thus produced are examined via thermal, spectroscopic, surface, and microscopic analyses. The electrochemical properties and charge storage parameters of FrGO are analysed using galvanostatic charge–discharge cycling, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy using a symmetric electrochemical double layer capacitor in three electrolytes, viz. an alkaline aqueous electrolyte, a neutral aqueous electrolyte, and an ionic liquid. The supercapacitors thus developed delivered specific discharge capacitances of ∼171, 126, and 135 F g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹ with potentials of 1.2, 2.0, and 3.4 V, respectively. Owing to the larger potential window and specific capacitance, the devices fabricated using the ionic liquid delivered the highest specific energy (E_S) and specific power (P_S). The best-performing device showed an E_S value as high as ∼60 W h kg⁻¹ and a P_S value as high as ∼6000 W kg⁻¹, thereby demonstrating the feasibility of the process reported herein for practical applications.