Novel graphene based MnO2/polyaniline nanohybrid material for efficient supercapacitor application

To cater the ever growing energy demand and durability for modern applications like portable electronic gadgets, hybrid electric vehicles, etc., enormous research has been done to develop high capacity electrochemical energy storage devices. Among different allotropes of carbon, graphene, is emerged as an excellent candidate for energy conversion and storage applications because of its unique properties, including high specific surface area (2630 m²/g), good chemical stability and excellent electrical conductivity. To obtain high specific capacitance as well as high rate capability, the use of MnO₂ based composite materials is predicted as potential candidate. Strategies to modify supercapacitor performance of MnO₂ based composites are reported by various research groups. Polyaniline is one of the most studied conducting polymer due to good conductivity, environmental stability, low weight, easy synthesis on large scale and economic importance for industrial applications. In commercial supercapacitors, activated carbon is commonly used as electrode materials. Low energy density of carbon materials cannot be efficient for their effective use in energy storage applications. Thus, preparation of supercapacitors by using hybrid material with incorporation of metal oxides and conducting polymers in graphene can provide exceptional energy as well as power density. Nanocomposite materials have attracted much attention due to the synergetic effects between the components which shows better electrical properties. Further, the improvement in the electrical properties in hybrid materials is attributed to the direct interfacial interaction. In this study, specific capacitance of Polyaniline/MnO₂/Graphene/Graphene oxide composite material was found to be 1882.32 (Fg⁻¹) with symmetric galvanostatic charge/discharge curves and 97.61% capacitance retention after 6063 cycles in cycle performance.