Electrochemical performance of graphene/carbon electrode contained well-balanced micro- and mesopores by activation-free method

Microporous carbons (G-MCs) containing graphene was prepared by one step activation-free method of graphite oxide (GO)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) film. This study examined effect of mesoporous graphene as an electrical additive on the electrochemical performance of microporous carbon. Microporous carbon with a plate form was obtained with the addition of graphene compared to irregular MCs prepared without graphene. Without additional activation, G-MCs had a high specific surface area (737 m2/g) due to the combination of mesoporous graphene and microporous carbon (MCs: 686 m2/g). From the charge/discharge results, the electrochemical performance of G-MCs was higher than that of MCs prepared with PVDF alone, and the specific capacitance (311 F/g) of G-MCs was higher than MCs (249 F/g). This was suggested that well-balanced meso- and microporous features of G-MCs allow feasible ion transfer during charge/discharge, leading to maximizing the charge accumulation and the addition of graphene could provide a combination effect between excellent conducting graphene and the high microporous features of MCs.

Graphical abstractThis described superior electrochemical performance of graphene-embed microporous carbons compared to microporous alone.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Microporous carbons were prepared with only carbonization of poly(vinylidene fluoride). ► 2-D mesoporous graphene was used as electrical additive for microporous carbons. ► Graphene/microporous carbon could be potential electrode materials for supercapacitor. ► Graphene/microporous carbon-based electrode showed high specific capacitance (311 F/g). ► It is probably due to the combination effect by microporous carbons and graphene.