SDS-Assisted Hydrothermal Deposition of NiO Nanoparticles on Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer for Enhanced Supercapacitor Performance

In this study, a CFRP@NiO composite was successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal process using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as a surfactant. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the formation of face-centered cubic (FCC) NiO. Morphological characterization revealed that the CFRP exhibited a tube-like structure with an average diameter of approximately 6 μm, uniformly decorated with NiO nanoparticles. The presence of SDS promoted the introduction of hydroxyl (–OH) functional groups onto the CFRP surface, enhancing its surface functionality and facilitating the homogeneous deposition of NiO nanoparticles. This surface modification also contributed to the improved thermal stability of the CFRP@NiO composite. Electrochemical measurements demonstrated a remarkable enhancement in capacitive performance. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) results showed that the specific capacitance increased from 10 to 135 F g−1 at a scan rate of 5 mV s−1 after NiO incorporation. Furthermore, galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) analysis revealed significantly extended charge–discharge times, confirming the superior energy storage capability of the CFRP@NiO composite compared with pristine CFRP.