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An investigation of copper oxide-loaded reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite for energy storage applications

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Abstract

This study presents the fabrication process and investigation of copper oxide-loaded reduced graphene oxide (rGO/CuO) nanocomposite for energy storage applications. In the study, the surface morphology, elemental mapping, structural analysis, chemical features, thermal stability and electrical conductivity of rGO/CuO nanocomposite were analyzed by scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope (SEM, TEM), X-ray diffraction analyzer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer, thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and electrical conductivity measuring device (ECMD). The sonicated reduced graphene oxide was dispersed in copper acetate in the presence of ascorbic acid. The fabricated rGO/CuO nanocomposite showed a total weight loss of about 34.83% at 416.96 °C. More so, the formation of copper oxide is evident on the nanocomposite at the diffraction peaks of \(2\uptheta \) = 36.75° and 61.41°. The homogenous mixture of the nanocomposite showed an average roughness of 8.62 nm and an electrical conductivity of 204.10 S/m.

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Acknowledgements

Authors thank Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa, for the financial support. SSR thanks the Department of Science and Innovation and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa, for the financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. French South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI), Department of Electrical Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

    Oladipo Folorunso & Yskandar Hamam

  2. Centre for Nanostructures and Advanced Materials, DSI-CSIR Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

    Oladipo Folorunso & Suprakas Sinha Ray

  3. École Supérieure d’Ingénieurs en Électrotechnique Et Électronique, Cité Descartes, 2 Boulevard Blaise Pascal, Noisy-le-Grand, 93160, Paris, France

    Yskandar Hamam

  4. Institute of NanoEngineering Research (INER), Department of Chemical, Metallurgy and Material Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

    Rotimi Sadiku

  5. Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, Johannesburg, 2028, South Africa

    Suprakas Sinha Ray

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  1. Oladipo Folorunso
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Folorunso, O., Sadiku, R., Hamam, Y. et al. An investigation of copper oxide-loaded reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite for energy storage applications. Appl. Phys. A 128, 54 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-021-05205-1

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