Silver nanoparticles decorated on a three-dimensional graphene scaffold for electrochemical applications

• Synthesis of graphene foam using chemical vapour deposition (CVD).
• Use of e-beam evaporator to deposit silver nanoparticles onto a 3D GF as support.
• SEM & TEM reveal adsorption of Ag nanoparticles on the 3D GF.
• Ag nanoparticles on 3D GF show improved electrochemical behaviour.

Silver metal nanoparticles were decorated by electron beam evaporation on graphene foam (GF) grown by chemical vapour deposition. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy were used to investigate the structure and morphology of the graphene foam/silver nanoparticles (GF/Ag). Both samples were tested as electrodes for supercapacitors. The GF/Ag exhibited a significantly higher capacitive performance, including a specific capacitance value of (~110 Fg−1) and excellent cyclability in a three-electrode electrochemical cell. These results demonstrate that graphene foam could be an excellent platform for metal particles for investigating improved electrochemical performance.