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Here we demonstrate a high energy density asymmetric supercapacitor with nickel oxide nanoflake arrays as the cathode and reduced graphene oxide as the anode. Nickel oxide nanoflake arrays were synthesized on a flexible carbon cloth substrate using a seed-mediated hydrothermal method. The reduced graphene oxide sheets were deposited on three-dimensional (3D) nickel foam by hydrothermal treatment of nickel foam in graphene oxide solution. The nanostructured electrodes provide a large effective surface area. The asymmetric supercapacitor device operates with a voltage of 1.7 V and achieved a remarkable areal capacitance of 248 mF cm(-2) (specific capacitance of 50 F g(-1)) at a charge/discharge current density of 1 mA cm(-2) and a maximum energy density of 39.9 W h kg(-1) (based on the total mass of active materials of 5.0 mg). Furthermore, the device showed an excellent charge/discharge cycling performance in 1.0 M KOH electrolyte at a current density of 5 mA cm(-2), with a capacitance retention of 95% after 3000 cycles.

An electrochemical synthesis method of reducing graphene oxide (GO) under constant potential is reported. Electrochemical technique offers control over reaction parameters such as the applied voltage, electrical current and reduction time; whereas the desired size and thickness of the film can be predetermined by controlling the amount of precursor GO deposited on the electrode with defined shape and surface area. This synthesis technique produces high quality electrochemically reduced GO (ERGO) film with controllable size and thickness. Electrochemical symmetrical supercapacitors based on ERGO films achieved a specific capacitance of 128 F/g with an energy density of 17.8 Wh/kg operating within a potential window of 1.0 V in 1.0 M NaNO3. The supercapacitor was shown to be stable, retaining ca. 86% of the original specific capacitance after 3500 charge-discharge cycles. The results indicate that this simple synthesis technique for providing graphene-like materials has great potential in various applications such as energy storage.

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