Issue 18, 2018

Mechanically robust double-crosslinked network functionalized graphene/polyaniline stiff hydrogels for superior performance supercapacitors

Abstract

To extend the applications of supercapacitors, it is important and challenging to develop structural/stiff supercapacitors with excellent mechanical and electrochemical performance. In this work, high performance double-crosslinked network functionalized graphene/polyaniline stiff hydrogels (DN-PGH/PANIPA) have been successfully synthesized by polymerization of aniline in a confined functionalized graphene (PGH) hydrogel framework. A unique polyaniline (PANI) morphology with a combination of nanodot protrusions and nanofibers is obtained, where nanodot protrusions are tightly anchored to graphene walls and nanofiber crosslinked graphene sheets. The as-prepared DN-PGH/PANIPA hydrogel, consisting of a continuous conductive closely combined double-crosslinked network and PANI nanofibers, together with a high crystallization degree of the PANI structure, is both stiff and mechanically robust with a high tensile strength of 1.39 MPa at a small ruptured elongation of 0.42%. Meanwhile, the DN-PGH/PANIPA stiff hydrogels are assembled into symmetric supercapacitors and achieve a superior areal specific capacitance of 3488.3 mF cm−2 and a volumetric specific capacitance of 872 F cm−3, remarkable rate capability, and excellent cycling stability, resulting in a notable energy density of 155 μW h cm−2 at 200 μW cm−2 and an outstanding power density of 20 015 μW cm−2 at 67.5 μW h cm−2. This novel double-crosslinked network design strategy establishes a promising approach towards the development of other stiff electrode materials as high performance structural supercapacitors.

Graphical abstract: Mechanically robust double-crosslinked network functionalized graphene/polyaniline stiff hydrogels for superior performance supercapacitors

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
26 Jan 2018
Accepted
09 Apr 2018
First published
10 Apr 2018

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2018,6, 8568-8578

Mechanically robust double-crosslinked network functionalized graphene/polyaniline stiff hydrogels for superior performance supercapacitors

Y. Zou, R. Liu, W. Zhong and W. Yang, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2018, 6, 8568 DOI: 10.1039/C8TA00860D

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