Amorphous FeOOH Quantum Dots Assembled Mesoporous Film Anchored on Graphene Nanosheets with Superior Electrochemical Performance for Supercapacitors

Abstract

Previous research on iron oxides/hydroxides has focused on the crystalline rather than the amorphous phase, despite that the latter could have superior electrochemical activity due to the disordered structure. In this work, a simple and scalable synthesis route is developed to prepare amorphous FeOOH quantum dots (QDs) and FeOOH QDs/graphene hybrid nanosheets. The hybrid nanosheets possess a unique heterostructure, comprising a continuous mesoporous FeOOH nanofilm tightly anchored on the graphene surface. The amorphous FeOOH/graphene hybrid nanosheets exhibit superior pseudocapacitive performance, which largely outperforms the crystalline iron oxides/hydroxides‐based materials. In the voltage range between −0.8 and 0 V versus Ag/AgCl, the amorphous FeOOH/graphene composite electrode exhibits a large specific capacitance of about 365 F g−1, outstanding cycle performance (89.7% capacitance retention after 20 000 cycles), and excellent rate capability (189 F g−1 at a current density of 128 A g−1). When the lower cutoff voltage is extended to −1.0 and −1.25 V, the specific capacitance of the amorphous FeOOH/graphene composite electrode can be increased to 403 and 1243 F g−1, respectively, which, however, compromises the rate capability and cycle performance. This work brings new opportunities to design high‐performance electrode materials for supercapacitors, especially for amorphous oxides/hydroxides‐based materials.