Exploring the potential of hydrothermally synthesized AgZnS@Polyaniline composites as electrode material for high-performance supercapattery device

Abstract

Polyaniline (PANI), being one of the highly stable and electroactive conducting polymers, is under investigation for some past years for its better conductivity and other electrochemical characteristics. In this research, PANI is utilized to enhance the electrochemical capabilities of silver-zinc sulfide (AgZnS). The synthesis of silver-zinc sulfide was done hydrothermally, while PANI was prepared via polymerization of aniline. The improvement in capabilities of silver-zinc sulfide was analyzed by adding PANI in it in 25%, 50%, and 75% weight ratios. One of the compositions with 50% PANI unveiled an excellent specific capacity (Qs) of 1121.6 Cg−1. The same composition was further examined for its charge storage capability by assembling a supercapattery device. The assembled device functioned remarkably well resulting in a highest Qs value of 223.44 Cg−1 at 1 Ag−1. Moreover, the device delivered a tremendous energy density of 49.65 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 795.33 W kg−1. The device lost only 10% of its capacity following 5000 charge-discharge cycles, while the Coulombic efficiency remained to be 95% over the same number of cycles at 4.2 Ag−1. The highest power density turned out to be 7678.93 W kg−1 with the lowest energy density of 9.62 Wh kg−1. The reported work, as compared to previous work puts forward a suitable electrode material to be exploited in superior energy storage devices.