Sandwiched MoS2/polyaniline nanosheets array vertically aligned on reduced graphene oxide for high performance supercapacitors

MoS2/polyaniline/reduced graphene oxide hierarchical nanosheets (denoted as MoS2/PANI/rGO HNSs) with novel structure of sandwiched MoS2/PANI nanosheets array vertically align on rGO are successfully synthesized and investigated as supercapacitor electrode in aqueous electrolyte (1M H2SO4). In this hierarchical nanosheets, PANI chains are intercalated into MoS2 interlayers constructing sandwiched MoS2/PANI nanosheets and restrict the volume change itself, meanwhile the sandwiched MoS2/PANI nanosheets array vertically align on rGO nanosheets creating intimate and sufficient hetero-interface between PANI, MoS2 and rGO layers. Thus excellent conductivity and ultrahigh reactive surface area are achieved and leads to superior supercapacitance. In the three-electrode system, the MoS2/PANI/rGO-300 HNSs show a capacitance of 330.7 F g(-1) at current density of 10 A g(-1) at first cycle, and have capacitance retention about 81.9% after 40,000 cycles. Assembled as MoS2/PANI/rGO-300//MoS2/PANI/rGO-300 symmetric supercapacitor, it exhibits a capacitance of 97.8 F g(-1) at current density of 2 A g(-1) at first cycle. After 20,000 cycles, 84.2% of initial capacitance is retained. When assemble asymmetric supercapacitor using MoS2/PANI/rGO-300 HNSs as cathode and active carbon (AC) as anode, it still shows a high capacitance of 73.3 F g(-1) at current density of 2 A g(-1) at first cycle, retains 87.9% after 20,000 cycles. (c) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.