Biomass-Based Mechanically Strong and Electrically Conductive Polymer Aerogels and Their Application for Supercapacitors

Abstract

A novel biomass-based mechanically strong and electrically conductive polymer aerogel was fabricated from aniline and biodegradable pectin. The strong hydrogen bonding interactions between polyaniline (PANI) and pectin resulted in a defined structure and enhanced properties of the aerogel. All the resultant aerogels exhibited self-surppoted 3D nanoporous network structures with high surface areas (207-331m(2)/g) and hierarchical pores. The results from electrical conductivity measurements and compressive tests revealed that these aerogels also had favorable conductivities (0.002-0.1 S/m) and good compressive modulus (1.2-1.4 MPa). The aerogel further used as electrode for supercapacitors showed enhanced capacitive performance (184 F/g at 0.5 A/g). Over 74% of the initial capacitance was maintained after repeating 1000 cycles of the cylic voltammetry test, while the capacitance retention of PANI was only 57%. The improved electrochemical performance may be attributed to the combinative properties of good electrical conductivity, BET surface areas, and stable nanoporous structure of the aerogel. Thus, this aerogel shows great potential as electrode materials for supercapacitors.

Smart Porous Multi-Stimulus Polysaccharide-Based Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering

“…Conductive polymers can be structured with porous systems using different techniques [127][128][129]. Starch and starch/κ-carrageenan aerogels have been used as templates for the obtention of nanoporous conductive materials [52,53].…”

“…Hence, the incorporation of drugs within these kinds of porous scaffolds has been studied previously for osteogenic differentiation, bone repair activity, and the stimulation of neural tissues [126,133]. Conductive polymers can be structured with porous systems using different techniques [127][128][129]. Starch and starch/κ-carrageenan aerogels have been used as templates for the obtention of nanoporous conductive materials [52,53].…”

Engineering of MoS2 Quantum Dots/PANI Aerogel for High Performance Supercapaciator

“…Of the various materials in supercapacitor electrodes, carbon nanotubes, graphene, different metal oxides, and conducting polymers have shown great potential because of the high porosity, large specific surface area, high conductivity, and pseudocapacitive properties . Among those, conducting polymer polyaniline (PANI) have attracted a lot of attention in high performance supercapacitors because of its simple processing, low price, high electrical conductivity and high theoretical specific capacitance …”

A Novel Radiation Method for Preparing MnO2/BC Monolith Hybrids with Outstanding Supercapacitance Performance

“…Among energy storage devices, supercapacitors (or ultracapacitors) have attracted intense interest because of their high energy density, safe operation, super-high service life and great power density [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Due to these features they have broad application areas, such as hybrid vehicles, pulse power systems and digital products [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Depending on the charge storage mechanism, supercapacitors are generally classified into electrical double layer charge (EDLC) and pseudoprocess charge storage.…”