Graphite nanosheets/nanoporous carbon black/cerium oxide nanoparticles as an electrode material for electrochemical capacitors

• Effect of surface morphology on energy storage characteristics was investigated.
• Electrodes containing macro, micro and nano pores were prepared and characterized.
• Charges of 1.73, 37.88 and 208.33 C g−1 cm−2 were reported on prepared morphologies.
• qO/qT of 0.53, 0.43 and 0.24 was reported on different morphologies.
• Nanoporous structure increases capacitance up to 16.2 F/g at 10 mV s−1 in 3 M NaCl.

In this study, effect of morphology and pore size distribution on physicochemical properties of graphite nanosheets (GNSs)/nanoporous carbon black (NCB)/CeO2 nanoparticle electrodes were investigated in 3 M NaCl electrolyte. 90:00:00:10 (GNS:NCB:CeO2:PTFE) electrodes show a flat and smooth surface and 75:00:15:10 electrodes showed micro pores which opened on surface. In the presence of NCB particles, electrodes like 25:50:15:10 showed the macro, micro and nano pores, simultaneously. Total charge (qT*) of 1.73, 37.88, 208.33 C g−1 cm−2 and outer charge to total charge (qO*/) of 0.53, 0.43 and 0.24 were obtained from 90:00:00:10, 75:00:15:10 and 25:50:15:10 electrodes, respectively. It is concluded that introducing narrower and deeper pores on surface of electrodes increases the charge storage capability and decreases the current response and power delivering capability. Flat surface of GNSs showed 3.4 F/g and also exhibited good capacitance retention of more than 80%. Additionally, nanoporous structures increased the capacitance of 25:50:15:10 electrodes up to 16.2 F/g at 10 mV s−1 in 3 M NaCl electrolyte.

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