Electrochemical Properties and Supercapacitive Performance of Polypyrrole-Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Electrodes

International Journal of Chemistry | Vol. 3, No. 9, September 2012 | pp. 90–97

DOI: 10.46882/2012/IJC/000048

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Electrochemical Properties and Supercapacitive Performance of Polypyrrole-Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Electrodes

Names of Authors: U. B. Aliyu¹, L. O. Ndidi²*

Authors’ Affiliations:
¹Department of Chemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
²Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.

Abstract: High-efficiency electrical energy storage requires supercapacitor electrodes that combine high pseudocapacitance with rapid electric double-layer charge transfer and mechanical stability. This study presents the preparation and electrochemical testing of polypyrrole-graphene oxide (PPy-GO) nanocomposites synthesized via the in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole monomers on graphene oxide sheets. The morphological configurations and structural properties of the hybrid matrices were examined through transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FT-IR, and Raman spectroscopy. TEM images revealed a uniform distribution of amorphous PPy particles along the highly wrinkled GO layers. Electrochemical properties were investigated via cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) in a 1.0 M KCl electrolyte. The PPy-GO electrode delivered a maximum specific capacitance of 385 F/g at a current density of 0.5 A/g, outperforming standalone pure PPy (185 F/g). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) plots showed a very low internal resistance of 0.35 ohms. Long-term cycle testing showed that the nanocomposite maintained 86.4% of its initial capacitance after 1500 continuous cycles, making it a viable candidate for micro-supercapacitor assemblies.

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

Manuscript Timeline: Received: September 12, 2011; Revised: October 25, 2011; Accepted: November 10, 2011; Published: September 09, 2012.

Citation: Aliyu, U. B., & Ndidi, L. O. (2012). Electrochemical Properties and Supercapacitive Performance of Polypyrrole-Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Electrodes. International Journal of Chemistry, 3(9), 90–97.

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