Hierarchical organic-inorganic PANI/CuWO4 nanocomposite as high-performance and robust electrode for advanced supercapacitors

The development of advanced supercapacitor electrode materials with high energy density and robust cycling stability remains a critical challenge for next-generation energy storage systems. Hybrid nanocomposites combining conductive polymers and transition metal oxides offer a promising route to overcome these limitations by integrating the merits of both components. In this study, a polyaniline (PANI)/CuWO₄ nanocomposite was synthesized through in situ oxidative polymerization of aniline in the presence of CuWO₄ nanoparticles, and the resulting material was directly deposited onto a nickel sheet (NS) substrate using a drop-casting method without the addition of binders. The structural and morphological properties of the composite were characterized using FESEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, and EDS analyses, which collectively revealed a hierarchical flower-like nanosheet architecture for the PANI/CuWO₄ nanocomposite. Electrochemical performance was evaluated in a two-electrode configuration with 6 M KOH electrolyte via cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) measurements. The PANI/CuWO₄/NS electrode exhibited an outstanding specific capacitance of 323 F g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹, a high energy density of 16.16 Wh kg⁻¹, and excellent capacitance retention of 90.75 % after extensive cycling. The hierarchical porous architecture, confirmed by BET and TEM, facilitated rapid ion/electron transport and buffered mechanical stress during repeated charge/discharge cycles. These results highlight the PANI/CuWO₄/NS nanocomposite as a highly efficient and durable electrode material for advanced supercapacitor applications.