La2O3-carbon black-polypyrrole: A synergistic ternary composite for advanced supercapacitor electrodes

Abstract

Electrochemical supercapacitors allure greater recognition owing to their exceptional safety and power density. This study explores the suitability of a ternary composite comprising La₂O₃ and carbon black nanoparticles dispersed in a polypyrrole (PPy) matrix for developing supercapacitor electrodes. Investigations on the impact of the nanomaterials in polypyrrole composites on the performance of the electrodes were carried out by varying the amount of La₂O₃ while fixing the amount of carbon black and vice versa. A simple chemical route of in-situ polymerization was adapted for synthesizing the composites, and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analysis confirmed the successful incorporation of the nanofillers. Among all the synthesized samples, the polypyrrole composite consisting of 10 % carbon black and 4 % La₂O₃ (PCL4) demonstrated the highest specific capacitance of approximately 2800 F/g. The substantial amount of carbon black could improve the specific capacitance of the composite and hence enhance its electrochemical performance. The incorporation of La₂O₃ emphatically enhanced the thermal stability and reduced dielectric loss, whereas carbon black improved the dielectric properties of the composites. The nanofillers synergistically increased the active surface area of the electrode material, and the composite could achieve a maximum energy density of ∼ 250 Wh/kg, hence suggesting that polypyrrole/ La₂O₃/carbon black ternary composite is a promising candidate for fabricating supercapacitor electrodes.