An investigation of chemical oxidative polymerization and life cycle assessment of graphene oxide-grafted polyaniline nanocomposite for improved electrocatalytic performance

With escalating apprehension contemplating anthropogenic climate change and exhaustion of fossil fuels, the development of sustainable energy storage devices has become exigent and compelling. Supercapacitors are observed as budding alternatives for the augmentation and replacement of batteries because of their skyscraping power density and long life cycle. Polyaniline (PANI), attributable to its low cost, ease of synthesis, environmental stability, electroactivity, queer doping/de-doping chemistry, and high theoretical pseudocapacitance, has emerged as sterling electrode material for supercapacitor applications. Howbeit, a hindrance to cycling life and rate-capability ascribable to the large change in volume and sluggish redox reactions during the charging–discharging process restricts its practical use. The amalgamation of PANI with graphene oxide (GO) has attracted a plethora of interest as it instigates novel properties and enhanced performance. The SEM micrographs suggested that GO nanoparticles were well dispersed in the polymer matrix. Higher thermal stability was observed for GO-PANI contrary to pure PANI which was attributable to the shielding effect from graphene substrates. The inclusion of 10% GO content revealed better conductivity. Cyclic voltammetry studies elucidated the highest current value and electrocatalytic properties were found to be diffusion controlled. Life cycle assessment studies were performed to assess the environmental performance of the prepared nanocomposites. The LCA studies highlighted the energy-intensive nature of the fabrication process and toxic nature of chemicals in use suggesting the requirement of potential alternatives when upscaling the fabrication processes for industrial-scale manufacturing. Graphical abstract