Morphology and Capacitance Properties of Nanostructured Composites of Carbon Nanostructures and C 60 -Pd Nanoparticles

Abstract

The composites of C60-Pd polymer and carbon nanostructures, single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and graphene, were synthesized chemically in benzene solution containing zero-valent Pd complex, C60, and carbon nanostructure. Two kinds of morphologies are observed on the surface of carbon nanoparticles during polymer deposition. Initially, a thin layer of 5 nm C60-Pd polymeric nanoparticles is formed. Next, these particles aggregate into bigger spherical structures ca. 150 nm in diameter. The capacitance performance of synthetized materials was investigated. Specific capacitances per mass of the polymer in the composite are significantly higher in comparison to pure chemically formed polymeric material. This effect is related to the nanostructured morphology of composite resulting in the higher efficiency of charge accumulation. © 2013 The Electrochemical Society.