Development of binder-free MoTe2/rGO electrode via hydrothermal route for supercapacitor application

The rising prevalence of electronic devices necessitates the application of supercapacitors, which rely on electrochemically active materials with high capacitive performance. Two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe2) nanoarrays have piqued great interest due to their wide-range applications including supercapacitor material, because of the inherent layered structure, low band gap and comparable conductivity. On the other hand, its self-aggregations decrease its chemical stability and activity, which remains a major barrier to its actual application. By combining with carbon-based reduced graphene oxide (rGO), self-aggregation and electrochemical activity can be improved significantly. In this research, MoTe2-supported rGO (MoTe2/rGO) was fabricated via a low-cost facile hydrothermal approach and characterised by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) that is inclined with scanning electron microscope (SEM). Electrochemical assessments were also accomplished in an aqueous electrolytic solution of 2.0 M potassium hydroxide (KOH) for supercapacitor performance. The MoTe2/rGO shows exceptional specific capacitance (Cs) of 1196 F g-1, specific energy of 83.06 Wh kg- 1- as well as 353.5 W kg-1 specific power at a current density of 1 A g-1 measured from galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD) profile. On the other hand, the composite shows specific capacitance of 757.40 F g-1 measure via cyclic voltammetry (CV) at a scan rate of 5 mV s-1. Additionally, the nanohybrid shows a robust retention capacitance of 94.23% after 5000th successive cycles at 1 A g-1. The mechanical flexibility, intense cooperation and combined effects of MoTe2 and rGO nanosheets are responsible for the exceptional performance of supercapacitor applications. Because of its enormous potential for green energy generation and its simplicity of manufacture in a single step, MoTe2/rGO nanocomposite can serve as an electrode for extraordinary supercapacitors.