Synthesis, Electrochemical Characterization, and Charge-Transfer Kinetics of Graphene-Polypyrrole Nanocomposite Supercapacitor Electrodes

International Journal of Chemistry | Vol. 17, No. 8, August 2026 | pp. 81–88

DOI: 10.46882/2026/IJC/000217

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Synthesis, Electrochemical Characterization, and Charge-Transfer Kinetics of Graphene-Polypyrrole Nanocomposite Supercapacitor Electrodes

Names of Authors: H. de Vries¹, K. Y. Lee²*

Authors’ Affiliations:
¹Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands.
²Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore [American Citizen Abroad].

Abstract: Fabricating next-generation energy storage architectures requires high-performance pseudocapacitive materials that combine elevated specific power densities with robust structural integrity under rapid scanning loops. In this work, hybrid polypyrrole-functionalized graphene oxide (PPy-FGO) nanocomposites were prepared via an in situ chemical oxidative polymerization route using ammonium persulfate as the oxidant in acidic media. The structural configurations and morphological networks of the resulting hybrid matrices were evaluated using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. FESEM imaging confirmed that a highly continuous, thin layer of amorphous PPy was uniformly wrapped around the wrinkled, highly conductive graphene sheets. Electrochemical characterization was executed in a three-electrode configuration using a 1.0 M aqueous H₂SO₄ electrolyte via cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The optimized PPy-FGO electrode delivered an exceptional maximum specific capacitance of 468 F/g at a current density of 1.0 A/g. EIS plots showed a very low internal charge-transfer resistance of 0.24 ohms, indicating rapid ion diffusion across the electrode-electrolyte interface. Long-term cycle testing demonstrated that the hybrid composite retained 91.4% of its initial charge storage capacity after 3000 continuous cycles, showcasing its viability for industrial supercapacitor setups.

Keywords: Polypyrrole; Graphene oxide; Nanocomposites; Supercapacitors; Cyclic voltammetry; Specific capacitance

Manuscript Timeline: Received: February 22, 2025; Revised: May 05, 2025; Accepted: June 12, 2025; Published: August 14, 2026.

Citation: de Vries, H., & Lee, K. Y. (2026). Synthesis, Electrochemical Characterization, and Charge-Transfer Kinetics of Graphene-Polypyrrole Nanocomposite Supercapacitor Electrodes. International Journal of Chemistry, 17(8), 81–88.

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