Symmetric and Asymmetric Supercapacitor Fabrication Based on Green Synthesized NiO Nanoparticles and Graphene

Nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) are synthesized using olive leaf extract (OLE), which contains a range of polyphenols. These polyphenols serve as both reducing and capping agents, stabilizing the nanoparticles. Aqueous nickel acetate is employed as a precursor. Simultaneously, exfoliated graphene (EG) is obtained via electrochemical exfoliation of graphite in aqueous solutions. These materials were employed as electroactive components in supercapacitor applications. Characterization of NiO and EG involved thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (RS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning/transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM), alongside Brunauer−Emmett−Teller (BET) analysis, confirming the formation of crystalline NiO NPs with a cubic phase and Fm-3m space group. Micrographs revealed nanoscale dimensions for both NiO and EG with a substantial surface area, as verified by BET analysis. Symmetric (NiO/NiO, EG/EG) and asymmetric (NiO/EG) supercapacitors were fabricated using the doctor blade method. Electrode evaluation, employing field-emission scanning electron microscopy FESEM, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), demonstrated promising morphological and electrochemical characteristics. At low scan rates, both symmetric and asymmetric supercapacitors exhibited a notable gravimetric capacitance (221, 111, and 162 F g^–1 at 1 mV s^–1). Additionally, they revealed higher power density (173, 137, and 161 W kg^–1 at 10 mV s^–1), showcasing pseudocapacitive and electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC) behavior for NiO NPs and EG, respectively. This research significantly contributes valuable insights by presenting a sustainable synthesis route for NiO NPs, developing high-performance supercapacitor electrodes, and achieving a comprehensive understanding of the electrochemical behavior of NiO NPs and EG.