A Free-standing Graphene-Polypyrrole Hybrid Paper via Electropolymerization with an Enhanced Areal Capacitance

Abstract

Here we developed a free-standing reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-polypyrrole (PPy) hybrid paper via electropolymerization on a paper-like graphene gel. This flexible hybrid paper displayed a uniform layered structure with PPy coated onto the graphene layers. A high areal mass of 2.7 mg cm−2 could be obtained. It delivered a greatly enhanced areal capacitance of 440 mF cm−2 at 0.5 A g−1, in contrast to that 151∼198.5 mF cm−2 previously reported for graphene paper or polypyrrole-graphene paper. It can retain ∼81% of the initial capacitance at a high current density of 6 A g−1. The combined high flexibility with outstanding electrochemical performance, makes such novel hybrid paper a promising electrode for flexible supercapacitors. Disciplines Engineering | Physical Sciences and Mathematics Publication DetailsShu, K., Wang, C., Zhao, C., Ge, Y. & Wallace, G. G. (2016). A free-standing graphene-polypyrrole hybrid paper via electropolymerization with an enhanced areal capacitance. Electrochimica Acta, 212 561-571. AbstractHere we developed a free-standing reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-polypyrrole (PPy) hybrid paper via electropolymerization on a paper-like graphene gel. This flexible hybrid paper displayed a uniform layered structure with PPy coated onto the graphene layers. A high areal mass of 2.7 mg cm -2 could be obtained. It delivered a greatly enhanced areal capacitance of 440 mF cm -2 at 0.5 A g -1 , in contrast to that 151~198.5 mF cm -2 previously reported for graphene paper or polypyrrole-graphene paper. It can retain ~81% of the initial capacitance at a high current density of 6 A g -1 . The combined high flexibility with outstanding electrochemical performance, makes such novel hybrid paper a promising electrode for flexible supercapacitors.

A Porous and Interconnected Polypyrrole Film with High Conductivity and Ion Accessibility as Electrode for Flexible All‐Solid‐State Supercapacitors

“…In addition, the peaks at 1039 and 1189 cm −1 are attributed to C−H deformation vibrations and C−N stretching vibrations, respectively . The C=C bond in the plane bending of the pyrrole ring is located at the peak at 813 cm −1 . These characteristic absorption peaks confirm the formation of PPy material.…”

“…[19] The C=C bond in the plane bending of the pyrrole ring is located at the peak at 813 cm À 1 . [27] These characteristic absorption peaks confirm the formation of PPy material.…”

Flexible Electronics Based on Micro/Nanostructured Paper

“…Usually, in addition to high electrical conductivity or optoelectronic properties, the materials must be able to form films. Therefore, carbon‐based materials (e.g., CNTs, graphene, and carbon fibers[155a,162]) are preferred to directly construct free‐standing paper‐like electrodes, which not only inherit the remarkable flexibility of conventional paper electrodes, but also display the excellent electrical performance of the doped electrochemical materials. For example, Nb 2 O 5 nanodots were homogeneously decorated onto a rGO surface to form homogeneous colloidal suspensions of Nb 2 O 5 /rGO composites via a polyol‐mediated solvothermal reaction, and the composites were further fabricated into flexible free‐standing papers .…”

Freestanding RGO—Co3O4—PPy Composite Films as Electrodes for Supercapacitors

“…In addition to the large surface area, other unique properties of graphene, including its high electrical and thermal conductivity, can also improve the electrochemical properties of the composite flexible electrodes for supercapacitors . Shu and Wang developed a freestanding RGO—PPy hybrid paper via the electropolymerization process. The results proved that this hybrid paper delivers an enhanced areal capacitance of 440 mF cm −2 at 0.5 A g −1 and retains 81% of its initial capacitance after 5000 cycles.…”