Green synthesis of flower-like ZnO decorated reduced graphene oxide composites

Flower-like ZnO decorated reduced graphene oxide composites have been controllably synthesized, using sodium citrate as the green reducing agent by a hydrothermal method, which combines the formation of the flower-like ZnO particles and the reduction of graphite oxide in one single step. The as-synthesized composites were characterized by scanning electron microscope and X-ray powder diffraction, which indicate that the ZnO particles are decorated on the surfaces and on the interlayers of the reduced graphene oxide sheets, and act as spacers to prevent the aggregation of the sheets. The electrochemical tests show the composites to have good capacitive behavior, which predicts their potential application in energy storage.