One-pot polyelectrolyte assisted hydrothermal synthesis of RuO2-reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite

A nanohybrid of ruthenium dioxide (RuO2) nanoparticles and chemically reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheets was synthesized by in situ growth of RuO2 on the surface of RGO in the presence of Poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA). PDDA is used as both a reducing agent and a stabilizer. Incorporation of PDDA successfully improved the dispersion of RuO2. The prepared RuO2–RGO has been thoroughly characterized by spectroscopic (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and thermogravimetric analysis. Microscopy techniques (scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy) were employed to probe the morphological structures as well as to investigate the exfoliation of RGO sheets. In addition, it is interesting to see that the RuO2–RGO nanocomposites exhibited excellent electrochemical capacitance properties.