Synthesis of RGO/CNT nanocomposite

In this work, graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized through Hummer s method and reduced to graphene (RGO) through thermal reduction. Then, a composite was prepared from GO and functionalized carbon nanotube namely GO/CNT under ultrasonic irradiation and finally was converted to RGO/CNT by heating. The physical characterization of synthesized composite was accomplished using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and N2-adsorption-desorption techniques. The specific surface area of the composite was 564.48 m2 /g. Graphene with the merits of high electron transfer rate, large surface area, high conductivity as well as thermal and chemical stability has been tested as a promising cathodic material for Li–air batteries due to its very high discharge capacity and high round-trip efficiency. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have also been investigated as cathodic materials for nonaqueous Li–O2 batteries because of their high chemical and thermal stability and high conductivity resulting from their unique structures.