Enhanced electrochemical performance of α-MoO(3)/graphene nanocomposites prepared by an in situ microwave irradiation technique for energy storage applications

Nanoparticles of α-molybdenum oxide (α-MoO(3)) are directly grown on graphene sheets using a surfactant-free facile one step ultrafast in situ microwave irradiation method. The prepared α-MoO(3) and α-MoO(3)/G nanocomposites are analysed by different characterization techniques to study their structural, morphological and optical properties. Transmission electron microscope images reveal the intercalation of three dimensional (3D) α-MoO(3) nanoparticles into 2D graphene sheets without any agglomeration. The electrochemical results exhibit improved performance for the α-MoO(3)/G composite electrode compared to pristine α-MoO(3) owing to its structural superiority. The specific capacitance (C(s)) values of the α-MoO(3)/G composite and pristine α-MoO(3) are measured to be 483 and 142 F g(−1) respectively at a current density of 1 A g(−1). The α-MoO(3)/G composite maintains a very strong cyclic performance after 5000 cycles. The capacitance retention of the composite electrode shows stable behavior without any degradation confirming its suitability as an enduring electrode material for high-performance supercapacitor applications.