In real life applications, supercapacitors (SCs) often can only be used as part of a hybrid system together with other high energy storage devices due to their relatively lower energy density in comparison to other types of energy storage devices such as batteries and fuel cells. Increasing the energy density of SCs will have a huge impact on the development of future energy storage devices by broadening the area of application for SCs. Here, we report a simple and scalable way of preparing a three-dimensional (3D) sub-5 nm hydrous ruthenium oxide (RuO2) anchored graphene and CNT hybrid foam (RGM) architecture for high-performance supercapacitor electrodes. This RGM architecture demonstrates a novel graphene foam conformally covered with hybrid networks of RuO2 nanoparticles and anchored CNTs. SCs based on RGM show superior gravimetric and per-area capacitive performance (specific capacitance: 502.78 F g−1, areal capacitance: 1.11 F cm−2) which leads to an exceptionally high energy density of 39.28 Wh kg−1 and power density of 128.01 kW kg−1. The electrochemical stability, excellent capacitive performance, and the ease of preparation suggest this RGM system is promising for future energy storage applications.

In this work, the synthesis and characterization of three-dimensional hetergeneous graphene nanostructures (HGN) comprising continuous large-area graphene layers and ZnO nanostructures, fabricated via chemical vapor deposition, are reported. Characterization of large-area HGN demonstrates that it consists of 1-5 layers of graphene, and exhibits high optical transmittance and enhanced electrical conductivity. Electron microscopy investigation of the three-dimensional heterostructures shows that the morphology of ZnO nanostructures is highly dependent on the growth temperature. It is observed that ordered crystalline ZnO nanostructures are preferably grown along the <0001> direction. Ultraviolet spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy indicates that the CVD-grown HGN layers has excellent optical properties. A combination of electrical and optical properties of graphene and ZnO building blocks in ZnO-based HGN provides unique characteristics for opportunities in future optoelectronic devices.

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We describe the fabrication of highly conductive and large-area three dimensional pillared graphene nanostructure (PGN) films from assembly of vertically aligned CNT pillars on flexible copper foils for applications in electric double layer capacitors (EDLC). The PGN films synthesized via a one-step chemical vapor deposition process on flexible copper foils exhibit high conductivity with sheet resistance as low as 1.6 ohms per square and possessing high mechanical flexibility. Raman spectroscopy indicates the presence of multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and their morphology can be controlled by the growth conditions. It was discovered that nitric acid treatment can significantly increase the specific capacitance of the devices. EDLC devices based on PGN electrodes (surface area of 565 m2/g) demonstrate enhanced performance with specific capacitance value as high as 330 F/g extracted from the current density-voltage (CV) measurements and energy density value of 45.8 Wh/kg. The hybrid graphene-CNT nanostructures are attractive for applications including supercapacitors, fuel cells and batteries.

Ultracapacitors are promising candidates for alternative energy storage applications since they can store and deliver energy at relatively high rates. Here, we present hybrid nanocarbon ultracapacitor electrodes with a low equivalent series resistance (ESR) of 7 ohms. 1-pyrenebutyric acid treated large-area single layer graphene (SLG) sheets covered with shortened multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) have been utilized as highly conductive and percolated networks of hybrid carbon nanomaterial composites or thin films as ultracapacitor electrodes. Uniform centimeter scale single layer graphene sheets were produced via low pressure chemical vapor deposition using copper foil substrates and then subsequently modified by 1-pyrenebutyric acid functionalization. Chemically shortened MWNTs ranging in length of 200-500 nm, were deposited by drop casting on 1-pyrenebutyric acid functionalized SLG films. SLG/MWNT nancomposite hybrid films of different thicknesses were obtained by controlling the density of MWNT suspension. Surface morphology and nanostructure of the hybrid nanocomposites indicated relatively dense and homogeneous web-like networks. Specific capacitance values of the hybrid electrodes were substantially increased by 200% compared to those ultracapacitors fabricated using buckypaper electrodes. Average values of specific capacitance and energy density obtained were 140.64 F/g and 21.54 Wh/kg respectively. SLG/MWNT nanocomposite electrodes are very promising for future ultracapacitor devices with their low ESR value that is 95% lower than that of buckypaper based ultracapacitors.