International Journal of Energy Research, Vol.44, No.14, 11742-11755, 2020
Preparation and electrochemical hydrogen storage properties ofCo(9)S(8)alloy coated with cobalt/graphene composite
A facile one-pot reduction process is used to obtain the cobalt/graphene composite (CoRGO). The CoRGO materials exhibit unique reticular globular morphology. Co(9)S(8)hydrogen storage alloy is fabricated via mechanical alloying method. Different amounts of CoRGO are coated on the surface of Co(9)S(8)alloy by ball milling. The electrochemical characterizations of the composites are conducted in the standard tri-electrode system. Ultimately, the CoRGO coated Co(9)S(8)electrode shows preferable performance than the RGO modified alloy (603.6 mAh/g) and original alloy (577.3 mAh/g). As the additive content of CoRGO is 6 wt%, a maximum discharge capacity of 637.5 mAh/g is obtained. Furthermore, the cycle stability and high-rate dischargeability of the electrode are also enhanced. The Co particles in the CoRGO participate in the reversible redox reactions and the graphene provides high conductivity. The CoRGO with distinctive structure and morphology can not only improve the electrocatalytic activity but also increase the specific surface area of Co(9)S(8)alloy. The cobalt and graphene species in the CoRGO composite serve a synergistic effect in further facilitating the hydrogen diffusion, expediting the charge transfer in/on the alloy and improving the corrosion resistance, thus enhancing the electrochemical performance and reaction kinetics of Co(9)S(8)alloy.