Electrostatically Induced Intercalation of Layered Double Hydroxide in Graphene Oxide for Enhanced Electrochemical Energy Storage

Graphene-based materials have great potential for electrochemical energy storage applications, but their performance is often limited by the restacking of nanosheets, which restricts ion accessibility. In this study, a straightforward method to fabricate reduced graphene oxide (rGO) laminates intercalated with magnesium-aluminium layered double hydroxide (MgAl-LDH) nanosheets is presented. Due to electrostatic interactions, the positively charged LDH nanosheets strongly bind to the negatively charged rGO layers, forming a stable, alternating laminar structure with well-defined nano-capillaries. Detailed characterization confirms the intended architecture of the rGO-LDH hybrid. Electrochemical analysis shows nearly ideal electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC) behavior, with the rGO-LDH reaching a specific capacitance of up to 410 F g^-1 at 1 A g^-1. This work highlights the vital role of LDH nanosheets as interlayer spacers that effectively prevent restacking, providing new insights into designing 2D materials for high-performance supercapacitors and energy storage systems.