Preparation and Electrochemical Properties of Functionalized Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes @ Carbon Quantum Dots @ Polyaniline Ternary Composite Electrode Materials

Jing Wang,Chul Gyu Jhun,Zhihao Hu,Tianhao Hu,Guotao Dong,Ye Ge,Youyang Chen

doi:10.3390/app10165462

Jing Wang, Chul Gyu Jhun + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/app10165462

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Abstract

Based on various carbon nano materials, the ternary composite functionalized carbon nanotubes (FMWCNTs) @ carbon quantum dots (CQDs) @ polyaniline (PANI) was prepared by in-situ polymerization and hydrothermal method. The carbon-based material was made into an electrode sheet. The morphology and microscopic nanostructures were characterized by FTIR, field emission scanning electron microscopy and field emission transmission electron microscopy. Cyclic voltammetry and the galvanostatic charge discharge method was adapted to study the electrochemical properties of these active materials. Our results showed that the specific capacitance of FMWCNTs @ CQDs @ PANI was as high as 534 F/g, while it was 362 F/g, 319 F/g and 279 F/g for PANI @ FMWCNTs, PANI @ CQDs and polyaniline. This means that the specific capacitance of FMWCNTs @ CQDs @ PANI is increased by 47.5%, 67.4% and 91.4% comparing with the capacitance of PANI @ FMWCNTs, PANI @ CQDs and polyaniline, respectively. Moreover, the specific capacitance retention rate of the ternary active electrode after 1000 times of constant current charge and discharge cycle reached 86%, while it was 60% for PANI @ FMWCNTs, 72% for PANI @ CQDs and 65% for polyaniline.

Highlights

The research on carbon-doped materials has received more and more attention from academia.Especially, the interaction between conductive polymers, such as polyaniline (PANI) and carbon nanomaterials, such as multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and carbon quantum dots (CQDs), has been researched hotspots since its discovery [1]
The composite material PANI @ CQDs and PANI @ FMWCNTs was prepared by in-situ polymerization under acidic and ice bath conditions for 24 h, while the FMWCNTs
PANI @ FMWCNTs has poor performance of the electrode material after multiple charge and of the ternary active electrode has reached more than 2750 s, which is more than twice the time spent discharge comparing PANI @ CQDs, even lower than the retention rate of pure PANI

Summary

Introduction

The research on carbon-doped materials has received more and more attention from academia. With the high specific surface area of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), relatively high electrical conductivity and significant chemical stability [11,12], it provides the possibility to prepare excellent electrochemically active materials [7]. With CNTs, the new type of carbon nanomaterial CQDs have a large specific surface area [27] and good electrical conductivity [28]. It provides more space for electron transport and storage compared with CNTs. In addition, it provides more space for electron transport and storage compared with CNTs In this experiment, FMWCNTs @ CQDs @ PANI, a new type of carbon matrix composite material, was compounded by PANI, FMWCNT and CQDs with in-situ polymerization and the hydrothermal method. The composite material was fabricated into an electrode material, and its electrochemical performance was characterized

Materials and Preparation Method

Results and Discussion

Electrochemical Performance

Retention

Conclusions