Core-shell structure γ-MnO2-PANI carbon fiber paper-based flexible electrode material for high-performance supercapacitors

Good conductivity is the key to ensuring high electrochemical performance, and the uniformity of the active material directly affects the electrical conductivity. This paper proposes a novel modified stepwise in situ polymerization method to prepare composite materials, and then uses the K/S value method to characterize the uniformity of polyaniline distribution. Specifically, the study presents a papermaking wet-lay technique to prepare a carbon fiber paper substrate (CP) that is light-weight, flexible, and foldable while also having low internal resistance and high porosity. The gamma-MnO2 is wrapped with PANI to form a core-shell structure, and a modified stepwise in situ polymerization method is adopted to deposit the core-shell structure uniformly on the CP substrate by physical adsorption. This process yields a flexible electrode material for supercapacitors, called gamma-MnO2-PANI-CP electrode. Results show that the gamma-MnO2-PANI-CP electrode has a high specific capacitance of 642.5 F g(-1) at a current density of 1 A g(-1), and also has a high energy density of 114.2 Wh kg(-1) at a power density of 798.6 W kg(-1). In addition, the electrode retains 81.3% of the initial capacitance after 5000 cycles, demonstrating high cycling performance. (C) 2021 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study proposes a novel method for preparing flexible electrode materials using polymer coating, which exhibits high specific capacitance and energy density in supercapacitors, with good cycling performance.