Design and fabrication of Co3O4 anchored PANI binary composite supercapacitors with enhanced electrochemical performance and stability

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics Vol. 33; no. 5; pp. 2829 - 2845
• Main Authors: Athira, A. R., Bhagya, T. C., Riyas, A. H., Xavier, T. S., Shibli, S. M. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.02.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Carbon; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cobalt; Cobalt oxides; Electrochemical analysis; Electrodes; Electrolytes; Energy storage; Fourier transforms; Low temperature; Materials Science; Microscopy; Morphology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Polyanilines; Polymerization; Polymers; Subzero temperature; Supercapacitors
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-021-07486-x

Co 3 O 4 anchored polyaniline (PANI) binary composite with excellent electrochemical activity is successfully developed by lowering the synthesis temperature. The composite achieves a specific mesoporous structure at subzero temperature and exhibits an admirable specific capacitance as high as 1308 F g −1 at 10 mV s −1 . The enhanced electrochemical performance is attributed to the low-temperature synergism of PANI and Co 3 O 4 . The specific morphology offers enough active sites for efficient electrolyte diffusion and buffers the structural deformation of PANI, thus improving the composite's stability. Also, the fabricated symmetric supercapacitor shows a stable energy storage performance − 99.6% coulombic efficiency over 5000 CD. The notable specific energy (250 Wh kg −1 ) at a specific power of 6.4 kW kg −1 at 1 A g −1 demonstrates the potential of Co 3 O 4 anchored PANI binary composite electrode for future supercapacitors.