Boosting supercapacitor performance: Sb2O3 nano-blocks on rGO sheets for enhanced energy storage

Abstract

In this work, the synthesis of antimony(III) oxide (Sb₂O₃) nanoblocks/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets was obtained by a straightforward hydrothermal method. Sb₂O₃/rGO composites were prepared with various ratios of rGO. The results indicated that the Sb₂O₃/15 mg rGO composite had remarkable electrochemical performance. It displayed a good electrochemical efficiency, with a high specific capacitance of 151.89 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹. Furthermore, it demonstrated a significant cycling stability, retaining 80 % of its initial capacitance after 5 K charge/discharge cycles. A symmetric supercapacitor device was prepared using Sb₂O₃/15 mg rGO composite as the electrodes for both positive and negative ends. The device exhibited a high specific energy of 44.36 Wh kg⁻¹ and a significant specific power of 850.76 W kg⁻¹. Moreover, it maintained 5.025 Wh kg⁻¹ at a specific power of 7.25 kW kg⁻¹. These results indicated that the Sb₂O₃/15 mg rGO composite has the potential promising application as an energy-storage electrode material, as no investigations have been conducted on using Sb₂O₃/rGO as a supercapacitor electrode.