Redox reaction between graphene oxide and In powder to prepare In2O3/reduced graphene oxide hybrids for supercapacitors

• Graphene oxide can be reduced by In powder in about 30 min.
• The In3+ ions, the by-products during reduction, were used to obtain In2O3/rGO.
• The In2O3/rGO hybrids showed high supercapacitive performance for energy storage.

A facile and quick route for the chemical reduction of graphene oxide (GO) using In powder as a reductant has been established. The reduction of GO by In powder is traced by UV–visible absorption spectroscopy, and the obtained reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is analyzed. The In3+ ions produced during the reaction between the GO and the In powder are chemically transformed to In2O3 and then form In2O3/rGO hybrids. The In2O3/rGO hybrids are used as electrode materials and their electrochemical performance are studied using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge. The In2O3/rGO hybrids demonstrate excellent electrochemical performance and their highest specific capacitance is 178.8 F g−1 which is much higher than that of either In2O3 or rGO. In addition, the In2O3/rGO hybrids are also very stable.