Electrochemical performance of polyaniline nanofibres and polyaniline/multi-walled carbon nanotube composite as an electrode material for aqueous redox supercapacitors

Polyaniline (PANI) nanofibres are synthesized by interfacial polymerization and their electrochemical performance is evaluated in an aqueous redox supercapacitor constituted as a two-electrode cell. The initial specific capacitance of the cell is 554 F g−1 at a constant current of 1.0 A g−1, but this value rapidly decreases on continuous cycling. In order to improve the cycleability of the supercapacitor, a composite of polyaniline with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is synthesized by in situ chemical polymerization. Its capacitive behaviour is evaluated in a similar cell configuration. A high initial specific capacitance of 606 F g−1 is obtained with good retention on cycling. In both supercapacitors, the effect of charging potential on cycling performances is investigated.