Preparation of polypyrrole-decorated MnO2/reduced graphene oxide in the presence of multi-walled carbon nanotubes composite for high performance asymmetric supercapacitors

The present work demonstrates the preparation of polypyrrole-decorated MnO2/rGO by oxidative polymerization method as well as in the presence of CNTs composites. The as-prepared nanocomposites are investigated by XRD, ATR-IR, Raman, TGA, and TEM techniques. Results illustrate polypyrrole with spherical nanoparticles covering the surface of MnO2/rGO and CNTs in which CNTs are intercalated between MnO2/rGO layers (Py@MnG2). In the meantime, the electrochemical performances for the obtained samples are investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) experiments at 2 M KCl aqueous electrolyte. Owing to the presence of CNTs as well as the synergistic effect between polypyrrole and MnO2/rGO layers, the electrochemical performance of Py@MnG2 shows high specific capacitance of 295.83 F g−1 in a three-electrode system. The asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) is assembled with Py@MnG2 and microwave exfoliated graphite oxide (MrGO) as positive and negative electrode material respectively. The as-fabricated ASC device exhibits a high energy density of 11.22 Wh Kg−1 and power density of 807.67 W kg−1 at 1 A g−1 in the potential window of 0–1.6 V. Moreover, the ASC device shows good cycling stability (78.42%) after 1000 cycles at 200 mV s−1. •A novel polypyrrole decorated MnO2/rGO in the presence of CNTs composite is prepared.•The as-prepared composite shows a high specific capacitance of 295.83 F g−1 in three-electrode system.•The assembled ASC exhibits a high energy density of 11.22 Wh Kg−1 at 1 A g−1.