Multi-growth site graphene/polyaniline composites with highly enhanced specific capacitance and rate capability for supercapacitor application. (10th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zheng, Xuewen; Yu, Huitao; Xing, Ruiguang; Ge, Xin; Sun, He; Li, Ruihong; Zhang, Qiwei
• Is Part Of: Electrochimica acta. Volume 260(2018)
• Page Start: 504
• Page End: 513
• Publication Date: 2018-01-10
• Subjects: Multi-growth site graphene -- Polyaniline -- Supercapacitor; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry, Industrial -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2017.12.100
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4686

Abstract

Abstract: Graphene/polyaniline composite electrodes have attracted much attention owing to their potential applications in supercapacitors or ultracapacitors. Currently, it remains a great challenging task to a trade-off between the specific capacitance and rate performance. Herein, we demonstrate an alternative and effective route to prepare 3D multi-growth site graphene (MSG)/polyaniline (PANI) composite electrode with highly improved electrochemical properties. Multi-growth site graphene is prepared by introducing in-plane carbon vacancy defects and more oxygen functional groups into graphene sheets via a mild acid oxidation (70% HNO3 /30% H2 O2 ) chemical treatment. The in-situ prepared MSG/PANI nanocomposites exhibit a collection of unique properties with highly improved specific capacitance of 912 F/g at 1 A/g much higher than those without HNO3 /H2 O2 treatment (432 F/g), excellent rate capability of 86.4% retention at high current density of 20 A/g, high cycling stability of 89.5% of its initial capacitance after 10000 charge/discharge cycles at 10 A/g, and good mechanical property, which are the optimized overall performances among supercapacitor electrodes based on graphene/polyaniline composites in the literature. These results suggest that the MSG/PANI composite electrodes with excellent electrochemical properties are particularly attractive for supercapacitor applications. Graphical abstract: 3D MSG/PANI electrodes exhibit highly improved specific capacitance of 912 F/g (1 A g −1 ), and rate capability of 86.4% (20 A g −1 ). Highlights: 3D multi-growth site graphene (MSG)/PANI electrode with highly improved electrochemical properties was obtained. Multi-growth site graphene (MSG) was prepared by a mild acid oxidation (70%HNO3 /30%H2 O2 ) treatment. The composite shows superior specific capacitance of 912 F/g at 1 A g −1, and rate performance of 86.4% at 20 A g −1 .