Electrochemical Performance and Supercapacitive Characterization of Polyrhodanine-Carbon Nanotube Thin Film Electrodes

International Journal of Chemistry | Vol. 4, No. 7, July 2013 | pp. 49–56

DOI: 10.46882/2013/IJC/000058

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Electrochemical Performance and Supercapacitive Characterization of Polyrhodanine-Carbon Nanotube Thin Film Electrodes

Names of Authors: U. B. Aliyu¹, J. Y. Lee²*

Authors’ Affiliations:
¹Department of Chemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
²Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.

Abstract: Fabricating highly efficient electrochemical energy storage units requires the development of hybrid polymer electrodes that exhibit high specific capacitance and fast ion diffusion kinetics. This research details the synthesis and electrochemical characterization of polyrhodanine-multiwalled carbon nanotube (PRHD-MWCNT) thin-film nanocomposites prepared via in situ chemical oxidative polymerization pathways. The surface topology and morphological features of the hybrid films were analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), FT-IR, and Raman spectroscopy. FESEM imaging confirmed that a highly continuous, ultra-thin polyrhodanine layer was uniformly deposited across the conductive multiwalled carbon nanotube skeletal network. Electrochemical performance was investigated via cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) loops in a 1.0 M HCl electrolyte system. The optimized PRHD-MWCNT hybrid electrode delivered a maximum specific capacitance of 412 F/g at a current density of 1.0 A/g, which was substantially higher than standalone pure polyrhodanine films (145 F/g). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data showed a very low charge-transfer resistance of 0.38 ohms, confirming accelerated ionic transport across the polymeric interface. Cyclic stability evaluations proved that the composite material retained 89.2% of its capacitive profile after 2000 continuous cycles.

Keywords: Polyrhodanine; Carbon nanotubes; Thin films; Supercapacitors; Cyclic voltammetry; Specific capacitance

Manuscript Timeline: Received: October 02, 2012; Revised: November 15, 2012; Accepted: December 04, 2012; Published: June 15, 2013.

Citation: Aliyu, U. B., & Lee, J. Y. (2013). Electrochemical Performance and Supercapacitive Characterization of Polyrhodanine-Carbon Nanotube Thin Film Electrodes. International Journal of Chemistry, 4(7), 49–56.

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