Abstract
This study utilizes light adsorbing molecule, phenothiazine (PTZ) to reduce graphene oxide (GO) and functionalize into PTZ-rGO aerogel (PTZ-rGO). The UV excited PTZ reduces GO via electron transfer while PTZ is simultaneously oxidized and functionalized onto rGO to produce PTZ-rGO aerogel. The optimum incorporation of PTZ on rGO sheets renders good electrochemical active surface area of 495.71 m2 g−1 and enhances the diffusion behavior up to 41.92%. This pseudocapacitive effect and the excellent surface property provide promising charge storage results of 235.5 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1. Furthermore, the stable charge-discharge cycles with 92% capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles render it an excellent electrode material for supercapacitor fabrication.
[Display omitted]
•One-step approach to produce functionalized rGO aerogel by UV excitation.•UV excites phenothiazine to transfer electron to GO for its reduction.•Functionalized phenothiazine produces pseudocapacitive effect.•Phenothiazine functionalized rGO aerogel can be supercapacitor electrode.