Optimizing Reduced Graphene Oxide Aerogel for a Supercapacitor

Abstract

Reduce graphene oxide (rGO) aerogels\nwith different precursor graphene\noxide sheet sizes are synthesized using l-ascorbic acid reduction\nfollowed by an ambient pressure drying method. The sheet sizes determine\nthe oxygen functionality content during aerogel formation, which subsequently\naffect its structural properties. The optimized sheet size renders\nstrong parallel sheet stacking to provide mechanical strength that\nwithstands capillary action during aerogel formation with a high surface\narea (190.40 m² g^–1) and pore volume\n(0.261 cm³ g^–1). Such surface properties\nenhance the electrochemical properties of rGO aerogel (182 F g^–1 at 0.75 A g^–1) and render it to\nbe an excellent electrode material for a supercapacitor.