Preparation and capacitance behaviors of cobalt oxide/graphene composites

In this study, cobalt oxide ($Co_3O_4$)/graphene composites were synthesized through a simple chemical method at various calcination temperatures. We controlled the crystallinity, particle size and morphology of cobalt oxide on graphene materials by changing the annealing temperatures (200, 300, $400^\circC$). The nanostructured $Co_3O_4$/graphene hybrid materials were studied to measure the electrochemical performance through cyclic voltammetry. The $Co_3O_4$/graphene sample obtained at $200^\circC$ showed the highest capacitance of 396 $Fg^-1$ at 5 $mVs^-1$. The morphological structures of composites were also examined by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Annealing $Co_3O_4$/graphene samples in air at different temperatures significantly changed the morphology of the composites. The flower-like cobalt oxides with higher crystallinity and larger particle size were generated on graphene according to the increase of calcination temperature. A TEM analysis of the composites at $200^\circC$ revealed that nanoscale $Co_3O_4$ (~7 nm) particles were deposited on the surface of the graphene. The improved electrochemical performance was attributed to a combination effect of graphene and pseudocapacitive effect of $Co_3O_4$.