Integrated MnO2/PEDOT composite on carbon cloth for advanced electrochemical energy storage asymmetric supercapacitors

• Published in: Journal of power sources 2023-09, Vol.579, p.233181, Article 233181
• Main Authors: Akbar, Abdul Rehman, Saleem, Adil, Rauf, Abdur, Iqbal, Rashid, Tahir, Muhammad, Peng, Gangqiang, Khan, Abdul Sammed, Hussain, Arshad, Ahmad, Muhammad, Akhtar, Mansoor, Ali, Mumtaz, Xiong, Chuanxi, Yang, Quanling, Ali, Ghaffar, Liu, Fude
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon scaffold; Electrochemical storage; Electrodeposition; Nanostructure; Supercapacitors
• ISSN: 0378-7753
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2023.233181

Advanced flexible supercapacitors with high energy/power density are an imperative research objective. In this study, a dually activated carbon cloth is designed as the functional current collector for supercapacitors. An electrodeposition technique is used for engineering Manganese Dioxide (MnO2) nanoflakes and profiting from a Poly (3,4 ethylene dioxythiophene; PEDOT) shield layer, a Li+-based neutral electrolyte high-performance freestanding asymmetric supercapacitors is constructed. The activated carbon cloth (ACC) provides an efficient electron-carrying route and the hierarchical nanostructure of the ACC@MnO2@PEDOT electrode. The integrated ACC@MnO2@PEDOT electrode exhibited exceptional capacitance performance of 1882.5 mF cm−2 (current density 1 mA cm−2) in 1.5 M aqueous LiCl electrolyte benefiting from ACC scaffold, the pseudocapacitive activity of MnO2 and substantial conductivity of the PEDOT polymer. Fabricating the structured electrode into an asymmetric supercapacitor revealed an enhanced areal energy density and an areal power density. The fabricated device demonstrated a broad voltage window of 1.8 V and extraordinary cycling stability of 94.6% after 10000 charge-discharge cycles. The unique scaffold, conducting PEDOT polymer, and MnO2 nanoflakes synergistically improved the cyclic performance and rate proficiency of the electrode, resulting in a supercapacitor with bendable electrical energy storage applications. [Display omitted] •Introduction of a unique activation for carbon cloth deployed as a scaffold.•Electrodeposition of MnO2 nanoflakes and PEDOT shield layer for SC electrode.•The integrated electrode showed excellent specific capacitance of 1882.5 mF cm−2.•The ASC with high areal energy density/power density (0.25 mW h cm−2/1.259 mW cm−2).•A broad voltage window of 1.8 V with cycling life of 94.6% after 10000 GCD cycles.