Carbon-Quantum-Dots-Anchored Poly(aniline-co-indole) Composite Electrodes for High-Performance Supercapacitor Applications

Supercapacitorshave attracted extensive considerationdue to theirhigh power density and long cyclability. However, safety and flexibilityhave become tasks encountered by supercapacitors with the furtherincrease in their demand. Herein, we report a carbon-quantum-dots-anchoredpoly(aniline-co-indole) (PAPI@CQDs) composite thinfilm fabricated by the hybrid electrospray deposition method. It wasfound that the PAPI@CQDs composite film showed outstanding electrochemicalperformance with the highest specific capacity (C (s)) of 185.1 C/g at 2 A/g with an excellent cyclabilityof 79.4% at 20 A/g after 10000 consecutive charge-dischargecycles. Finally, the proposed electrode can be used to fabricate ahybrid solid-state supercapacitor (PAPI@CQDs//rGO, where rGO = reducedgraphene oxide). The fabricated PAPI@CQDs//rGO asymmetric supercapacitor(ASC) device showed the highest specific capacity of 84.2 C/g at 1A/g with an ultrahigh energy and a power density of 26.22 Wh/kg and1125 W/kg, respectively. The solid-state PAPI@CQDs//rGO ASC devicesustains outstanding cyclability, with a retention of 72.3% after5000 cycles at 20 A/g. This study offers an effective tactic to attainconducting polymer-based composite electrodes for supercapacitorsand extend their application in the field of flexible electronics.

Automated summary

This study reports a carbon-quantum-dots-anchored poly(aniline-co-indole) composite thin film fabricated by the hybrid electrospray deposition method. The composite film exhibits outstanding electrochemical performance, with a highest specific capacity of 185.1 C/g and excellent cyclability of 79.4% after 10000 charge-discharge cycles. By using this electrode, a hybrid solid-state supercapacitor (PAPI@CQDs//rGO) with a specific capacity of 84.2 C/g, an ultrahigh energy density of 26.22 Wh/kg, and a power density of 1125 W/kg is achieved. The solid-state supercapacitor also shows outstanding cyclability with a retention of 72.3% after 5000 cycles. This study provides an effective approach for conducting polymer-based composite electrodes in supercapacitors and extends their application in the field of flexible electronics.