Nanoporous Graphene for Energy Storage Applications

Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) with modified morphologies has shown potential application as an electrode material for supercapacitors and batteries. By creating nanopores within RGO sheets, the specific surface area of electrode and diffusion of electroactive species can be improved. Here, we present a simple, solution based process to make nanoporous graphene from graphene oxide (GO) via microwave (MW) radiations. GO aqueous dispersion prepared by modified Hummer’s method can be converted to RGO via thermal, chemical or photochemical processes. Further, RGO in presence of hydrogen peroxide is irradiated with microwaves. The MW generated OH• radicals oxidize the carbon atoms around active defective sites in RGO, leaving behind carbon vacancy, which extends to form the nanopores. This nanoporous conductive material is further investigated for electrochemical and diffusional properties.