Effects of acid vapour mediated oxidization on the electrochemical performance of thermally exfoliated graphene

The surface modification of thermally exfoliated graphene (TEG) is an important technique for alteration of its hydrophobic nature and the resolution of its limited dispersibility. We have developed an easy acid-vapour-mediated method to functionalize the inert TEG surface with oxygen functional groups. The effects of oxygen functional groups on the capacitive performances of TEG were investigated with various reaction times. Ultraviolet–visible, Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy analyses demonstrated that the dispersibility of TEG was improved due to defect augmenting as the extent of oxidation progressed. Quantitative analyses of functional groups of the oxidized TEG samples (O-TEGs) were performed by thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies. Physisorption surface analysis showed that the pore volumes of O-TEGs were greater than that of the pristine TEG, whereas the specific surface areas of O-TEGs were lower than that of pristine TEG. Electrochemical performances of the O-TEG samples were measured through cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis. A maximum specific capacitance of 175.2 F g−1 was recorded at a current density of 1 A g−1 for the O-TEG oxidized for 2 h. Retention of specific capacitance for the sample was ∼97% after 5000 charge–discharge cycles.