Synthesis of Ni-Doped Graphene Aerogels for Electrochemical Applications

Carbonaceous materials used in most electrochemical applications require high specific surface area, adequate pore size distribution, and high electrical conductivity to ensure good interaction with the electrolyte and fast electron transport. The development of transition metal doped graphene aerogels is a possible solution, since their structure, morphology, and electrical properties can be controlled during the synthesis process. This work aims to synthesize Ni-doped graphene aerogels to study the role of different nickel salts in the sol-gel reaction and their final properties. The characterization data show that, regardless of the nature of the Ni salts, the surface area, volume of micropores, and enveloped density decrease, while the porosity and electrical conductivity increase. However, differences in morphology, mesopore size distribution, degree of order of the carbon structure, and electrical conductivity were observed depending on the type of Ni salt. It was found that nickel nitrate results in a material with a broader mesopore distribution, higher electrical conductivity, and hence, higher electrochemical surface area, demonstrating that graphene aerogels can be easily synthesized with tailored properties to fit the requirements of specific electrochemical applications.