Hybrid Veil-Like Co(OH)2/rGO Nanocomposites Towards Electrochemical Hydrogen Storage Properties

Abstract

The design and synthesis of new hydrogen storage nanomaterials with high capacity at low cost is extremely desirable but remains challenging for today’s development of a hydrogen economy. As a new type hydrogen storage material, Co(OH)2/rGO nanocomposites were successfully obtained through a facile method in this study. Through the measurements of X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge, it indicated that Co(OH)2/rGO nanocomposites showed a veil-like microstructure, consisting of interlaced nanorods with a diameter of 4–8[Formula: see text]nm on rGO nanosheets. The hydrogen storage capacity was up to 400[Formula: see text]mAh/g at room temperature, higher than those of graphene and Co(OH)2.