Electrochemical Properties of PANI as Single Electrode of Electrochemical Capacitors in Acid Electrolytes

Abstract

The polyaniline (PANI) powder with globular sponge-like morphology was prepared by chemical solution polymerization, and its morphology and chemical structure were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), respectively. The single electrode of electrochemical capacitor was made using the prepared PANI powder as active material and carbon paper as current collector. Electrochemical properties of PANI as a single electrode in 1 M HCl and 1 M H2SO4electrolyte solution were tested by galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) techniques. It has been found that PANI has higher specific capacitance of 302.43 Fg−1, higher specific energy of 54.44 Wh·kg−1at 0.5 Ag−1, and higher working potential in 1 M HCl than those in 1 M H2SO4.