Synthesis and Characterization of Copper Ferrite / rGO Nanocomposite

Abstract

A facile one-step method of thermochemical reaction was approached for the synthesis of CuFe2O4/rGO hybrid composite. The study design inculcated an increment of GO wt. % (0%, 5%, 10% and 15%) in starting precursors whereby GO was simultaneously reduced to rGO during the reaction. The composites were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Impedance Analyzer and Galvanostatic Charge-Discharge testing. The XRD patterns confirmed the reduction of GO and formation of CuFe2O4/rGO composite. Moreover, the crystallite size of the CuFe2O4/rGO composite was obtained in the range of 48±6 nm, The FTIR results showed two major vibrational bands, confirming the spinel structure formation. The SEM images showed embedding of CuFe2O4 nanoparticles on rGO sheets. The dielectric properties were highly enhanced with increasing wt. % of GO in the CuFe2O4. Pure CuFe2O4 exhibited a dielectric constant of 3.57×104 at 100 Hz that was enhanced massively to 1.27×105 for 15 wt. % of GO. Also, the dielectric loss values depicted an increase from the 3.24×105 for pure CuFe2O4 to 1.42×106 for 15 wt. % of GO, making this nanohybrid composite a potential candidate for supercapacitor applications. The charge storage capacity, cyclic stability and rate capability were also enhanced with increasing wt. % of GO. The specific capacity for 15 wt. % of GO was 1190 mAh g-1 for 1st and 845 mAh g-1 for 25th cycle, comparable to pure CuFe2O4 values of 900 mAh g-1 for 1st and 625 mAh g-1 for 25th cycle. Hence a substantial enhancement of electrochemical properties was depicted that projects the composite as a useful candidate for application as an electrode material for lithium-ion batteries.