Polyaniline-Based Ternary Composites for Energy Accumulation in Electrochemical Capacitors

Abstract

The research on electrode materials as electrochemical energy storage systems for supercapacitor application has globally intensified to fulfill energy consumption demand. During the last few years, considerable attempts have been exercised to develop various types of polymer-based ternary composite materials, especially using polyaniline as a conducting agent in combination with carbon and metal based compounds. The ternary composites have been found to demonstrate superior capacitive performance compared to their mono-component or binary composites. Because of several unique features (improved specific capacitance, increased chemical resistance, modifiable morphological nanostructures, better cyclic stability, and enhanced surface area), ternary nanocomposites as supercapacitor electrode materials have received significant attention for use in the field of energy devices. At present, nanocomposite materials consisting of conductive polymers, carbon materials, and metal compounds have demonstrated extensive commercial potential. As a result, several sophisticated approaches have been attempted to develop new ternary composites through combinations of three types of electroactive materials of different nature for supercapacitor application. In this chapter, recently developed polyaniline-based electrode materials as used for supercapacitor applications are summarized and discussed. To overcome the short cycle life of polyaniline and the low specific capacity of carbon materials, metal compounds (metal oxides/hydroxides/sulphides/ferrites) have been included as a third component to obtain ternary nanocomposites for interesting applications in the development of new supercapacitors.