Tailoring Neodymium Hydroxide with Graphene for High Performance Hybrid Supercapacitor

This study employed advanced pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) technique to synthesize Nd(OH)₃/graphene (Nd(OH)₃/G) composites. The graphene content was varied as 1:50, 2:50, 3:50, 4:50, and 5:50 and marked as N1, N2, N3, N4 and N5, respectively. A wide-ranging analysis utilizing X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), and thermogravimetric electron microscopy (TGA) were employed to investigate the structural, elemental, and electronic properties of the synthesized composites. Structural analysis showed a slight shift in the XRD peaks with increase in the graphene amount content. XPS investigation shows the chemical state of the synthesized material. Graphene incorporation into the Nd(OH)₃ was evidently shown via imaging analysis. Changes in the structural phase of the material with the variations of temperature were revealed in the TGA analysis. Nd(OH)₃/G composites were applied as anode for hybrid supercapacitors with activated charcoal (AC) as the cathode. Electrochemical studies were conducted in a 2-electrode system with 1 M Na₂SO₄ electrolyte. SCs possess a high potential window with Nd(OH)₃/G-AC electrode. The highest areal capacitance was achieved with N1 anode, which is 19.75 mF cm^-2 at 50 mV s^-1.

Keywords: Neodymium hydroxide; graphene; PLAL; supercapacitor; electrode.