One-spot synthesis of FeOOH/rGO composites by ferrous-ion-induced self-assembly of graphene oxides with different degrees of oxidation

In this study, graphene oxide sheets with different oxidation degrees were reduced by ferrous ion for coating FeOOH nano particles on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) matrix to synthesize FeOOH/rGO composites. The effect of the degree of oxidation on the morphology and chemical structure of FeOOH/rGO was studied using scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis. The particle size of FeOOH crystallites was approximately 100 nm, and they were distributed uniformly on the surface and in the pores of FeOOH/rGO. FeOOH/rGO prepared with mildly oxidized graphite had fewer defects, higher specific surface area, and higher FeOOH content than FeOOH/rGO prepared with highly oxidized graphite. These features resulted in better electrochemical properties, such as larger specific capacitance and lower charge transfer resistance.