Preparation and characterization of polyaniline–dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid–cadmium oxide (PANI-DBSA-CdO) composites: as an electrode material for energy storage applications

Abstract

Previously, we reported that PANI-CdO composites showed excellent supercapacitive performance at low CdO content, but declined at higher concentrations, likely due to limited conductivity and poor CdO dispersion in the PANI matrix. To address this, we introduced dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DBSA) as a protonating agent to enhance solubility and dispersion, aiming to improve the electrochemical performance. PANI-DBSA and PANI-DBSA-CdO nanocomposites were synthesized via in-situ chemical polymerization and characterized using XRD, FTIR, and SEM techniques. Electrochemical tests (CV, GCD, and EIS) revealed that PANI-DBSA achieved a specific capacitance of 727 F g⁻¹, an energy density of 16.1 Wh kg⁻¹, and a power density of 4770 W kg⁻¹ at 10 A g⁻¹, with over 85% retention after 20,000 cycles. The high capacitance, stability, and low resistance suggest that PANI-DBSA is a promising electrode material for supercapacitors. Moreover, a thorough electrochemical analysis of DBSA-doped PANI-CdO composites at higher concentrations of CdO dopant revealed structural and morphological disorders that suppress their electrochemical performance. These differences underscore the novelty of our approach and the advancement in supercapacitor applications.

Graphical abstract