Wood shavings combined with polyaniline and carbon nanotube film for flexible high-performance energy storage devices

Wood, as a uniquely ordered porous material, plays an indispensable role in energy storage devices. Here, wood shavings (WS) are utilized as a flexible substrate to form an electrode material with excellent flexibility. A conductive coating material made of spinnable carbon nanotube (CNT) film is applied onto the wood shavings, while polyaniline (PANI) nanoparticles are chemically polymerized in situ and deposited onto the CNT film to create flexible electrodes. CNTs offer optimal pathways for electron transport and establish stable connections among PANI particles. Furthermore, the incorporation of the CNT film causes an augmentation of the conductivity of WS substrate. The PANI/CNT@WS exhibits an outstanding specific capacity of 152.81 F g−1 at 0.2 A g−1. The flexible supercapacitor (FSC) presents a high specific capacitance of 45.89 F g−1 at 0.2 A g−1, and capacity rate is as high as 98.98 % after 1000 charge–discharge cycles. Even when bent to 120°, the capacity remains 62.9 %. Therefore, the composite electrode demonstrates exceptional flexibility and excellent electrochemical performance. [Display omitted] •An electrode based on wood shavings has excellent flexibility and mechanical properties.•These green energy storage devices have been developed for future applications in portable storage devices.•The treated spinnable carbon nanotube films can be well combined with wood shavings.•Carbon nanotubes and polyaniline composites on wood shavings provide excellent electrochemical properties.