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N-Graphene-Metal-Oxide(Sulfide) hybrid Nanostructures: Single-step plasma-enabled approach for energy storage applications

Abstract

Hybrid graphene-based nanostructures are considered promising materials for energy storage applications. However, the synthesis of high-quality hybrid graphene nanostructures at high yields is challenging. In the present work we propose a novel, single-step microwave plasma-enabled approach to synthetize customizable hybrid graphene-based nanostructures at high-yield while preserving their quality. Hybrid N-graphene (nitrogen-doped graphene) metal-based nanostructures, for instance, can be produced at a rate of ∼ 19 mg/min. The high energy density region of a microwave plasma provides sufficient energy and “building particles” fluxes towards the low-energy density plasma afterglow for the processes of assembly and growth of N-graphene sheets. Simultaneously, a controlled jet of metal-oxide(-sulfide) microparticles is sprayed into the plasma afterglow region where they bind to N-graphene sheets. Methane/methylamine are used as carbon and nitrogen precursors, combined with micron-sized MnO2 and oxy-MnS particles to synthesize the hybrid structures. As a result, nano-sized (∼10–30 nm) MnOx particles decorated N-graphene (4.6 at. N%) and oxidized metal sulfide anchored N-graphene sheets (3.1 at. N%) are produced at atmospheric conditions. High structural quality and distribution of metal-based nanostructures on N-graphene sheets are revealed using transmission and scanning electron microscopes and other advanced spectroscopic techniques. Finally, an electrode for supercapacitor based on the N-graphene-metal-oxide(sulfide) hybrid nanostructures is developed with promising specific capacitances (∼273 F.g−1 at 0.5 A.g−1). The described chemically engineered process is one of the fastest approaches reported for designing the high-quality hybrid nanostructures produced at a high-yield, and as such, is expected to provide a high impact on the design of electrode materials for sustainable energy storage systems.
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Category

Academic article

Language

English

Author(s)

  • A. Dias
  • N. Bundaleska
  • E. Felizardo
  • D. Tsyganov
  • A. Almeida
  • A.M. Ferraria
  • do Botelho do Rego
  • M. Abrashev
  • Th. Strunskus
  • N.M. Santhosh
  • U. Cvelbar
  • J. Zavašnik
  • M.F. Montemor
  • M.M. Almeida
  • Patricia Almeida Carvalho
  • J. Kissovski
  • L.L. Alves
  • E. Tatarova

Affiliation

  • SINTEF Industry / Sustainable Energy Technology
  • Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
  • Instituto Superior Tecnico
  • University of Lisbon (ULisboa)
  • University of Kiel
  • Josef Stefan Institute

Year

2021

Published in

Chemical Engineering Journal

ISSN

1385-8947

Volume

430

Issue

4

View this publication at Norwegian Research Information Repository