Electrochemical and capacitive properties of polyaniline-implanted porous carbon electrode for supercapacitors

Composite electrodes for supercapacitors were prepared by electropolymerization of polyaniline (PANI) on the surface of activated-porous carbons. The surface morphology and the chemical composition of composite electrodes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electrochemical properties of electrodes and the capacitive behavior of the resulting capacitors were systematically studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV), ac impedance and constant current charge–discharge tests. The specific capacitance of PANI-carbon composite electrode was exhibited as high as 160 F/g, in comparison with a value of 95 F/g for the bare-carbon (BC) electrode. An increase in capacitance more than 60% has been achieved, that identifies the significant contribution of pseudocapacitance from PANI on the overall capacitance.