Polyaniline nanofibers confined into graphene oxide architecture for high-performance supercapacitors

Due to its chemical stability, excellent reversibility and high pseudocapacitance, polyaniline (PANI) has attracted extensive attention for supercapacitors. However, the poor rate performance of PANI-based materials limits their large-scale application. Here, we report a facile strategy to fabricate PANI nanofibers confined into graphene oxide architecture (PGA50) through the adsorption of aniline onto stacked graphene oxide sheets and consequent in-situ polymerization. Benefited from the synergistic effect of PANI nanofibers and graphene oxide sheets, the sandwiched PGA50 has efficient electron/ion transfer pathways with stable structural framework. As a result, PGA50 electrode shows a high capacitance of 780 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 and excellent rate performance (521 F g−1 at 50 A g−1) compared to PANI (323 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 and 120 F g−1 at 50 A g−1). Significantly, the assembled PGA50//PGA50 supercapacitor achieves a high energy density of 30 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 216 W kg−1. PANI nanofibers confined into graphene oxide architecture (PGA50) is synthesized through the adsorption of aniline onto stacked GO sheets and in-situ polymerization. Interestingly, the PGA50 shows interconnected GO-PANI structure with stable conducting network and excellent electrical conductivity. As a result, PGA50 electrode exhibits a high specific capacitance of 780 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 with excellent rate capability (remains 521 F g−1 at 50 A g−1). [Display omitted] •The sandwiched PGA50 composited with stacked GO exhibits interconnected structure and stable structural framework.•The PGA50 exhibits high capacitance of 780 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 and superior rate performance remains 521 F g−1 at 50 A g−1.•The current density I and scan rate v of PGA50 shows a linear response with fast electrolyte ions transportation.