Shaped Controlled Polyindole decorated Vanadium Selenide nanosheets: A worthy approach using Hydrotrope for asymmetric supercapacitors

Abstract

Abstract Polyindole (PIN) has been one of the rising promising conducting polymers of this decade, attracting researchers’ attention worldwide. This can be attributed to better redox activity and physicochemical stability. Several techniques had reported synthesis of PIN in organic and aqueous media. However, it has been always reported as difficult. Challenges such as mixed morphology, irregular particle size and undesired agglomeration are among several outcomes’ researchers face. Hence, for the first time we present hydrotopically engineered chemical oxidative polymerisation of indole in the presence of Vanadium selenide (VS) in aqueous media. A hydrotrope is a compound that enhances the aqueous solubility of organic compound. The resulting nanocomposite was comprised of decorated polyindole over self-assembled 1D vanadium selenide, giving a 3D sheet like structure, as evident from FESEM studies. The results also highlighted uniform decoration of PIN over the background of VS. Besides, the physicochemical interaction between PIN and VS had been validated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and XRD analysis. Furthermore, electrochemical studies through cyclic voltammetry, galvanic charging discharging techniques for the nanocomposite revealed improved specific capacitance of PV (w.r.t VS) as evidenced from the higher voltametric output current than VS. Electrochemical impedance also corroborated the superior charge transfer at lower frequencies, suggesting the real time applications of the nanocomposite. Lastly, to compliment the electrochemical performance, the nano composite was also used in fabrication of asymmetric super capacitor, which was used to illuminate LED and power a digital stopwatch to augment the conductivity and real time charge storage ability of the as synthesised nanocomposite. To the best of our knowledge, synthesis of PV nano composite using hydrotrope – tetra n-octyl ammonium bromide in aqueous medium can be a promising electrode material for fabrication of super capacitor, resulting in a synergistic enhancement of vanadium selenide using PIN.