Abstract:The PANI/Mesoporous MnO 2 composites were prepared through a simple one step method and we introduced the KI-H 2 SO 4 solution as the electrolyte of PANI/MnO 2 composites creatively. The characterization of structure, morphology, and composition are obtained by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravity analysis, Raman spectra, and scanning electron microscope. The electrochemical performances were investigated by constant-current charge-discharge, the voltammetry curve, and alternating current (AC) impedance technique. The specific capacitance of composites is 1405 F/g, which is almost 10 times larger than MnO 2 (158 F/g). We also find that the iodide concentration is closely related to the specific capacitance. Therefore, we explored the specific capacitance at different iodide concentration (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 1 M), the results indicated that the specific capacitance reached a maximum value (1580 F/g) at 0.5 mol/L. Additionally, the PANI/Mesoporous MnO 2 composites not only exhibited a good ratio discharge property (857 F/g) at high current density, but also revealed an excellent cycling stability after 500 cycles, which retained 90% of the original specific capacitance.

Mesoporous polyaniline-silica nanocomposites with a full interpenetrating structure for pseudocapacitors were synthesized via the vapor phase approach. The morphology and structure of the nanocomposites were deeply investigated by scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis and nitrogen adsorption-desorption tests. The results present that the mesoporous nanocomposites possess a uniform particle morphology and full interpenetrating structure, leading to a continuous conductive polyaniline network with a large specific surface area. The electrochemical performances of the nanocomposites were tested in a mixed solution of sulfuric acid and potassium iodide. With the merits of a large specific surface area and suitable pore size distribution, the nanocomposite showed a large specific capacitance (1702.68 farad (F)/g) due to its higher utilization of the active material. This amazing value is almost three-times larger than that of bulk polyaniline when the same mass of active material was used.

In recent years, manganese dioxide has become a research hotspot as an electrode material because of its low price. However, it has also become an obstacle to industrialization due to its low ratio of capacitance and the low rate performance which is caused by the poor electrical conductivity. In this study, a KI solution with electrochemical activity was innovatively applied to the electrolyte, and we systematically investigated the rate performance of the mesoporous manganese dioxide and the composite electrode with silver nanowires in supercapacitors. The results showed that when mesoporous manganese dioxide and mesoporous manganese dioxide/silver nanowires composite were used as electrodes, the strength of the current was amplified five times (from 0.1 to 0.5 A/g), the remaining rates of specific capacitance were 95% (from 205.5 down to 197.1 F/g) and 92% (from 208.1 down to 191.7 F/g) in the KI electrolyte, and the rate performance was much higher than which in an Na2SO4 electrolyte with a remaining rate of 25% (from 200.3 down to 49.1 F/g) and 60% (from 187.2 down to 113.1 F/g). The morphology and detail structure were investigated by Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The electrochemical performance was assessed by cyclic voltammograms, galvanostatic charge/discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

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A novel high specific capacitance mesoporous polyaniline (PANI)/silica platelet nanocomposite electrode material for supercapacitors was prepared by an impregnation polymerization. The initiator was embedded firstly in the mesoporous silica pores and channels and then initiated the polymerization of aniline (AN). Compared with the other mesoporous silica materials, the mesoporous silica platelets possess a relative shorter mesoporous channels, leading an easier penetration process of initiator and AN to the inner of mesoporous silica platelets. The structures, morphologies and electrochemical properties of the nanocomposites were thoroughly studied by a series of methods, such as X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscope, nitrogen adsorption-desorption tests, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and electrochemical measurements. The results revealed that the PANI existed both in the inner and surface of the mesoporous silica platelets, leading a continual conductive network and a large specific surface area. These features provide the nanocomposites an excellent electrochemical performance.

Conventional ionic polymer-metal composite actuator had two major drawbacks: (i) complicated and time-consuming fabrication of noble metal electrode and (ii) degradation of electromechanical property in open air.In this study, we proposed a facile method to fabricate graphene oxide (GO)-based electromechanical actuators with surface-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as its electrodes. Such GO actuators were fabricated by evaporating the aqueous dispersion of exfoliated GO nanosheets, followed with in situ reduction of the surface of the GO nanosheets by hydrogen iodide (HI). When subjected to a 3 V electrical field, the GO actuator performed electromechanical bending action with a tip displacement of 5 mm and exhibited a blocking force of 10 gf g -1 for 10 s. In addition, the GO actuator showed an almost identical actuating behavior in cyclic measurements. The durable actuation could be attributed to both the unique lamellar structure of the GO film which blocked the diffusion of cationic clusters and the surface rGO electrodes which protected the interlamellar water from evaporation.

The mesoporous manganese dioxide with high specific surface area was obtained through a one-pot prepare procedure at ambient temperature under acidic conditions. And the graphene/mesoporous manganese dioxide composite was synthesized by a simple hydrothermal approach. As a comparison, silver nanowires also as a conductor was added to the mesoporous manganese dioxide. Both of the graphene and silver nanowires can increase the capacitance of the mesoporous manganese dioxide-based composite electrode materials. Compared with the graphene/mesoporous manganese dioxide composite, the silver nanowires/mesoporous manganese dioxide mixture has a better electrochemical performance, the specific capacitance and energy density is almost 2.2 times larger than that of the composites. The morphology and detail structure were investigated by the Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and Nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms. The electrochemical performance was assessed by the cyclic voltammograms, galvanostatic charge/discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

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