Energy is currently a vital global issue given the likely depletion of current resources (fossil fuels) coupled with the demand for higher-performance energy storage systems [1]. Such systems require the advantages of portability and energy efficiency whilst being environmental friendly [2] and [3]. Among different energy storage systems electrochemical capacitors can provide high power capabilities, excellent reversibility (90–95%) and long cycle life (>105) and exhibit 20–200 times larger capacitance per unit volume or mass than conventional capacitors [4], [5] and [6].
Depending on the electrode material and charge storage mechanism, electrochemical capacitors are classified as electrochemical double layer capacitors and pseudocapacitors [7], [8], [9] and [10]. The electrochemical double layer capacitors arise from the charge separation at the electrode/electrolyte interfaces, whereas pseudocapacitors exhibit electrochemical Faradic reactions between electrode material and electrolyte [11]. Transition metal oxides are considered to be the most suitable candidate materials for electrochemical capacitors. These stem from the high specific capacitance coupled with low resistance resulting in a high specific power which makes them suitable for commercial applications. Because of the direct and fast transformation of Ce(III) and Ce(IV), CeO2 nanoparticles may be good candidate as an electrode material for electrochemical capacitors [12]. In this paper, mechanical pressing as a fast and easy method was used to fabricate the electrodes. Then, prepared nanocomposites were evaluated as a novel electrode material for electrochemical capacitors using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques.