A new streamlined electrochemical assembly procedure to improve conductive polymer-based metal chalcogenide electrodes for innovative energy systems

Reliable, effective, and environmentally friendly supercapacitors still need development despite the progress made in many nanoscale electrode materials. In this area, composite materials made of organic polymers with high electrical conductivity and metal sulfides with various oxidation states were more attractive. This article describes the design and synthesis of zinc sulfide and polyaniline nanocomposites employing a fast and straightforward electrochemical deposition method and their use as electrode materials for supercapacitors. The structural investigation showed clumped spherical for pAni, hexagonal for pure ZnS, and coexisting hexagonal and spherical phases for ZnS@pAni nanocomposites. The ZnS@pAni nanocomposite demonstrated remarkable electrochemical efficiency and faradaic energy storage capabilities with practical reversibility. Also, an impedance inquiry found that the ZnS@pAni composite has better conductivity and a lower charge transfer resistance than its bulk components. ZnS@pAni//AC was used to create a hybrid asymmetric supercapacitor and displayed a large voltage window up to 2.06 V, 235.24 F g−1 specific capacity, and an ultimate energy density of 144.08 Wh kg−1. Also, when energy density drops to 22 Wh kg−1, substantial power delivery is achieved at 6.3 kW kg−1. Moreover, 88.05% of the capacitance was retained after the device completed 5000 cycles, suggesting good ZnS@pAni//AC asymmetric supercapacitor stability. •The demand for energy production and storage has increased as natural energy supplies become scarce.•The ZnS/pAni electrodes for supercapacitor usage have been prepared by a novel electrochemical technique.•The high specific capacitance (1608 and 235 F g−1) and the excellent cycle stability (90% and 88%) were obtained in three- and two-electrode systems.•ZnS/pAni//AC ASC provides energy and power densities of 144.08 Wh kg−1 and 6.3 kW kg−1 and can be an option for future applications in energy systems.