Enhancing the performance of polypyrrole composites as electrode materials for supercapacitors by carbon nanotubes additives

Abstract

In the framework of this study, a facile method to obtain polypyrrole (PPy)/carbon nanotubes composites is presented. Chemical polymerization of PPy directly on the carbon nanotubes allows to obtain a homogenous distribution of the polymer. A low amount of carbon additive, varying from 1.5 to 5.5 wt %, is applied in order to prevent the decrease of capacitance value due to the presence of a low-capacitance component and, at the same time, to protect the electrode material from mechanical changes during cycling electrical measurements. The electrochemical properties, such as capacitance, its retention at different current loads, cycling stability, or self-discharge, are discussed. Improvement of electrochemical performances of the synthesized materials is observed mostly during cyclic stability measurements and at high current regimes. The obtained results confirm that the addition of only 3% of carbon nanotubes provides the best electrochemical performances as electrode materials for supercapacitor application. PPy (which occur mostly due to its volume changes during faradaic processes such as redox reactions) and improve the mechanical properties, the allotropes of carbon with nanoscale diameter, Additional Supporting Information may be found in the online version of this article.

Synthesis and factor affecting on the conductivity of polypyrrole: a short review

“…Furthermore, PPy is known for its nontoxic and biocompatibility, 20,21 and it is utilized in wide‐ranging applications (eg, supercapacitors/electrodes, nanocomposites, gas sensors, biosensors, drug delivery, protective clothing, anticorrosion coatings, actuators, and adsorbents for the removal of heavy metals and dye. [ 19,22‐25] ) Figure 2 illustrates some of the general forms of PPy and their applications. The data in Figure 3A clearly show the progress of research on PPy and the increased number of publications providing insights into the recognition of PPy as an important and extensively explored CPs.…”

All‐gel‐state supercapacitors of polypyrrole reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets

“…However, the electrochemical performance of conducting polymers is limited in terms of cycling and degradation (pseudocapacitive response) 24,25 . The typical procedure applied in the production of high‐performance polymer‐based supercapacitors involves the development of composites of conducting polymers and electrical double layer capacitance – EDLC prototypes (carbon‐derivative fillers such as graphene nanoplatelets ‐ GNP) 3,26–29 . While the EDLC effect is observed under progressive charge accumulation at the interface electrode/electrolyte (non‐faradaic processes), the pseudocapacitance is based on faradaic redox reactions 24 .…”

“…24,25 The typical procedure applied in the production of high-performance polymer-based supercapacitors involves the development of composites of conducting polymers and electrical double layer capacitance -EDLC prototypes (carbonderivative fillers such as graphene nanoplatelets -GNP). 3,[26][27][28][29] While the EDLC effect is observed under progressive charge accumulation at the interface electrode/electrolyte (non-faradaic processes), the pseudocapacitance is based on faradaic redox reactions. 24 The combination of EDLC and pseudocapacitor components in hybrid devices improves the electrochemical performance of chemically modified substrates.…”

Preparation of Ultrafiltration Membrane by Polyethylene Glycol Non-Covalent Functionalized Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes: Application for HA Removal and Fouling Control

“…Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have attracted great attention since their discovery by the Japanese scientist Sumio Iijima in 1991 [ 5 ] for their good mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. CNTs have great application in the field of biosensors [ 6 , 7 ], high-strength conductive composites [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ], and hydrogen storage plant [ 12 ]. Meanwhile, due to its good antibacterial [ 13 , 14 ] and adsorption properties [ 15 , 16 ], CNTs are also widely used in the field of water treatment to develop a new generation of inorganic carbon material membrane (CNTs membrane) with high flux and antifouling properties.…”