2O3 Nanocomposite Research Articles

Mesoporous Graphitic Carbon-Encapsulated Fe2 O3 Nanocomposite as High-Rate Anode Material for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

A mesoporous graphitic carbon-encapsulated Fe2 O3 nanocomposite is synthesized as a superior anode material for sodium-ion batteries. A threefold strategy is adopted to achieve a high rate performance. First, the mesoporous structure with high specific surface area and large pore volume facilitates the transfer of electrolyte and accommodates the large volume change. Secondly, graphitic carbon encapsulation further improves the electronic conductivity of the nanocomposite. Finally, ultrafine Fe2 O3 nanocrystals effectively shorten the Na+ diffusion length. Consequently, this nanocomposite exhibits stable and fast Na+ storage, thus leading to excellent rate capability and cyclability. Pseudocapacitive behavior is found to dominate in the redox reactions, accounting for the outstanding rate and cycling performance. In addition, full cells, assembled with O3-Na0.9 [Cu0.22 Fe0.30 Mn0.48 ]O2 as cathodes, present good electrochemical performance.

Facile synthesis of α-FeOOH/γ-Fe2O3 by a pH gradient method and the role of γ-Fe2O3 in H2O2 activation under visible light irradiation

The development of an efficient and recyclable catalyst at a wide working pH range is crucial for the practical application of heterogeneous Fenton process. In this work, magnetic α-FeOOH/γ-Fe2O3 nanocomposite was one-pot synthesized by a simple pH gradient method. The obtained sample was found to be an efficient Fenton catalyst for the degradation and mineralization of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) over a wide pH range under visible light irradiation. It exhibited higher adsorption capacity towards TC at neutral pH, which facilitates the surface reactions of TC with active species. The contribution of homogeneous reactions can be ignored at neutral and alkaline pH, but increased significantly at acidic pH. The mechanism for H2O2 activation by α-FeOOH/γ-Fe2O3 at neutral pH is quite different from that by FeOOH. In the α-FeOOH/γ-Fe2O3 photo-Fenton process, γ-Fe2O3 could act as an electron trap and inhibit the reaction between photogenerated electrons and H2O2. Consequently, the production of HO was reduced, whereas more holes were separated and the production of O2− from the reaction of holes with H2O2 was significantly enhanced. TC should be degraded by HO, holes and O2−. Finally, the intermediates were determined by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and a possible pathway for TC degradation was proposed.

In-situ packaging ultra-uniform 3D hematite nanotubes by polyaniline and their improved gas sensing properties

This paper reports the PANI (polyaniline)-packaged three-dimensional (3D) α-Fe2O3 nanotubes P/N heterojunction, which was constructed successfully though a facile hydrothermal reaction without adding any surfactant followed by in-situ chemical polymerization in the liquid phase. The structure and morphology of the products were characterized by means of FESEM, XRD, TEM & HRTEM, TGA and FT-IR. Gas sensing test results found that, the PANI/α-Fe2O3 nanocomposite sensor exhibited obviously higher response, lower working temperature (180 °C), fast response and recovery speeds, good selectivity and excellent stability to acetone gas, indicating its promising application for high-performance acetone sensors. The enhanced gas sensing performances can be attributed to the factors like ultra-uniform 3D nanotube-like structure for α-Fe2O3, the noticeable advantages of PANI, as well as the construction of heterojunction barrier at their interface. The as-prepared PANI/α-Fe2O3 nanocomposite may be also applied in other areas like photocatalysis, water purification, ion batteries, optical devices, and so on.

Photoluminescence behavior and visible light photocatalytic activity of ZnO, ZnO/ZnS and ZnO/ZnS/ α -Fe 2 O 3 nanocomposites

Abstract In order to achieve effective, economic, and easily achievable photocatalyst for the degradation of dye methyl orange (MeO), ZnO, ZnO/ZnS and ZnO/ZnS/α-Fe2O3 nanocomposites were prepared by simple chemical synthetic route in the aqueous medium. Phase, crystallinity, surface structure and surface behavior of the synthesized materials were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis (BET) techniques. XRD study established formation of good crystalline ZnO, ZnO/ZnS and ZnO/ZnS/α-Fe2O3 nanomaterials. By using intensity of constituent peaks in the XRD pattern, the compositions of nanocomposites were determined. From the BET analysis, the prepared materials show mesoporous behavior, type IV curves along with H4 hysteresis. The ZnO/ZnS/α-Fe2O3 composite shows the largest surface area among three materials. From the UV–visible spectra, the band gap energy of the materials was determined. Photoluminescence spectra (PL) were used to determine the emission behavior and surface defects in the materials. In PL spectra, the intensity of UV peak of ZnO/ZnS is lowered than that of ZnO while in case of ZnO/ZnS/α-Fe2O3, the intensity further decreased. The visible emission spectra of ZnO/ZnS increased compared with ZnO while in ZnO/ZnS/α-Fe2O3 it is further increased compared with ZnO/ZnS. The as-synthesized materials were used as photocatalysts for the degradation of dye MeO. The photo-degradation data revealed that the ZnO/ZnS/α-Fe2O3 is the best photocatalyst among three specimens for the degradation of dye MeO. The decrease of intensity of UV emission peak and the increase of intensity of visible emission cause the decrease of recombination of electrons and holes which are ultimately responsible for the highest photocatalytic activity of ZnO/ZnS/α-Fe2O3.

Topotactic Transformation of Solvated MgCr-LDH Nanosheets to Highly Efficient Porous MgO/MgCr2O4 Nanocomposite for Photocatalytic H2 Evolution.

The hybrid structure of nanoparticles (NPs) with nanosheets has the advantage of both anisotropic properties of NPs and large specific surface areas of nanosheets, which is desirable for many technological applications. In this study, MgCr2O4 spinel NPs decorated on highly porous MgO nanosheets forming MgO/MgCr2 O4( x) nanocomposites were synthesized by a one pot coprecipitation method followed by a heat treatment process of the solvated wet gel of MgCr-LDH with polar solvent N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) at 400 °C. This novel synthetic methodology generates materials consisting of porous metal oxides nanosheets adhered with spinel phase NPs due to the slow generation of gases such as H2O, CO2, and NH3 under moderate temperature during the heat treatment process. The synergistic effect of much wider band gap MgO nanosheets and narrow band gap MgCr2O4 NPs added increased stability due to the stronger bonding coordination of MgCr2O4 NPs with MgO nanosheets. The obtained MgO/MgCr2 O4( x) nanocomposites possess large specific surface areas, highly porous structure, and excellent interface between MgCr2O4 NPs and MgO nanosheets, which proved from N2 sorption isotherm, TEM, HR-TEM study. With metallic ratio of MgCr3:1, MgO/MgCr2O4(MgCr3:1) nanocomposites exhibit highest H2 evolution rate of 840 μmolg-12h-1, which was 2 times higher than that of pure MgCr2O4(420 μmolg-12h-1). The LSV measurement study of MgO/MgCr2O4 (MgCr3:1) nanocomposite shows an enhancement of light current density of 0.22 μA/cm2 at potential bias of -1.1 V. The Mott-Schottky analysis suggested the band edge positions of the n-type constituents and formation of n-n type heterojunctions in MgO/MgCr2O4 (MgCr3:1) nanocomposite, which facilitates the flow of charge carriers. The EIS and Bode phase plot of MgO/MgCr2O4 (MgCr3:1) nanocomposite signifies the lower interfacial charge transfer resistance and higher lifetime of electrons (2.7 ms) for enhanced H2 production. Lastly, the enhanced photocatalytic H2 production activity and long-term stability of MgO/MgCr2O4(MgCr3:1) could be attributed to maximum specific surface area, porous structure, close intimacy contact angle between two cubic phases of MgCr2O4 NPs and MgO nanosheets, abundant oxygen vacancies sites, reduced charge transfer resistance and suitable band edge potential to drive the thermodynamic energy for H2 production. This work highlighted an effective strategy for the synthesis of cost-effective 2D porous heterojunctions nanocomposite photocatalyst for promising applications in the field of clean H2 production utilizing abundant solar energy.

Polyrhodanine/NiFe2 O4 nanocomposite: A novel electrocatalyst for hydrazine oxidation reaction

This study reports a facile fabrication of magnetic polyrhodanine/nickel-ferrite (PR/NiFe2O4) nanoparticles as a novel electrocatalyst for oxidation of hydrazine. Several technique were utilized to indicate the properties of the synthesized nanocomposite including the X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The electrocatalytic activity of the PR/NiFe2O4 modified carbon paste electrode was examined for hydrazine oxidation in alkaline solution by cyclic voltametry (CV) and chronoamperometry (ChA) methods. According to the obtained results, the modified electrode showed a suitable catalytic activity for hydrazine electrooxidation at lower overpotential and a significant high response for hydrazine oxidation. Moreover, the findings indicate that the reaction follows a Cottrell in behaviour during CA experimentand the diffusion coefficient of hydrazine is determined to be 3.56 × 10−9 cm2 s−1.

Study on thermal and mechanical properties of cellulose/iron oxide bionanocomposites film

Abstract The cellulose/iron oxide films were synthesized by a simple solution mixing-curing method. The structural elucidation of these films was made, using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffractions (XRD). The homogeneous dispersion of iron oxide in nanocomposites and morphology of their films were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Thermal stability was conducted with the help of Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA). The improved Integral Procedural Decomposition Temperature (IPDT) value confirms that cellulose/iron oxide is more thermally stable than cellulose film . The tensile stress test was conducted to analyze the mechanical properties of cellulose, cellulose/(0.5 wt%)Fe 3O4, cellulose/(1 wt%)Fe3O4 and cellulose/(2 wt%)Fe3O4 nanocomposites films . The tensile strength and Young modulus of the cellulose/(1 wt%)Fe 3O4 nanocomposites films were observed as 9.42 ± 0.6% and 45.16 ± 0.4% higher than that of the cellulose film, respectively. The physico-mechanical properties of these films suggest that the iron oxide based cellulose nanocomposite films may have a potential scope for their application in packaging industries.

Electron backscattered diffraction analysis of friction stir processed nanocomposites produced via spark plasma sintering.

In the present study, Spark Plasma Sintered (SPSed) aluminium matrix composites were severely deformed through Friction stir processing (FSP). Pure aluminium powders and bimodal sized Al2 O3 particles (80 nm and 25 μm) were firstly mixed by ball milling and then consolidated by spark plasma sintering. The effect of the heat input as well the bimodal particle size of the alumina on the materials' microstructure and texture development was evaluated by electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis. The EBSD analysis clearly showed that the SPSed nanocomposites possessed bimodal aluminium matrix grain structure as well as a crystallography characterised by random texture. In addition, microstructural examination revealed that the partial recrystallisation occurred during SPS for all the nanocomposites. Also, it is revealed that the Zener pinning effect of Al2 O3 nanoparticles retarded recrystallised grain growth following recrystallisation during FSP and then leading to grain refinement of the aluminium. The results revealed that the heat generated during FSP has a remarkable effect on the grain distribution as well as on the crystallographic orientation. Also, a mixture of {112} <110> shear elements and an ideal strong B/B¯ component were observed. The microstructural changes, occurred during FSP in the stir zone region for Al-Al2 O3 nanocomposites, were attributed to both the discontinuous along with the continuous recrystallisation (DDRX/CDRX). It should be pointed out that with increasing the heat input, recrystallised grains portion increased.

Zn doped NiFe2O4- Pb (Zr0.58Ti0.42)O3 multiferroic nanocomposites: Magnetoelectric coupling, dielectric and electrical transport

We have investigated the room temperature magnetoelectric coupling, temperature dependent impedance and dielectric properties of xZn0.3Ni0.7Fe2O4 – (1-x) Pb (Zr0.58Ti0.42)O3 (x = 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5) nanocomposites. The nanocomposites have been prepared through low temperature chemical pyrophoric reaction process followed by solid state reaction route. The magnetoelectric coupling has been measured as a function of applied magnetic field at different frequencies and different angles between applied magnetic field and measured electric field. The observed magnetoelectric coupling may be due to the field dependent magnetostriction of the piezomagnetic phase of the composite. Noticeably, the magnetoelectric coupling is strongly depended on the frequencies, angles and volume fraction of the piezomagnetic phase of the nanocomposites. Polarization – Electric field loop shows the room temperature ferroelectric nature of nanocomposites. The ac electrical properties of the nanocomposites have been studied employing impedance spectroscopy technique. The temperature dependent impedance studies reveal the grain boundaries plays the dominating role. Thermally tunable dielectric properties of nanocomposites exhibit the Maxwell – Wagner interfacial polarization in the system. Electromechanical resonance response is observed at the higher frequency region. The ac conductivity of the nanocomposites has been investigated at different temperatures and fitted by Jonscher's power law. The conduction mechanism is mainly due to the small and large polaronic hopping in the system.

γ-Al2O3 nanoparticle catalyst mediated polyaniline gold electrode biosensor for vitamin E

Polyaniline/gamma aluminum oxide (PAn/γ-Al2O3) nanocomposites were synthesized via in situ electropolymerization on gold electrodes and modified electrodes (Au/PAn/γ-Al2O3) were used for the detection of vitamin E (VE). The electrochemical and electropolymerization performance of aniline in the presence of γ-Al2O3 nanoparticles improved dramatically. The kinetic results indicate that the polymerization growth rate of PAn in the presence of nanoparticles catalyst on Au electrode is fast. The resulting electrode exhibited excellent performance with regard to detecting VE. The mechanisms of electropolymerization of aniline in presence of γ-Al2O3 nanoparticle catalyst and mechanism of redox behavior of VE are investigated. The limit of detection (LOD) was observed to be around 0.06 μM. The tolerance limits of some important interfering species with VE were studied.

Ultrafine Highly Magnetic Fluorescent γ-Fe2O3/NCD Nanocomposites for Neuronal Manipulations.

In this work, we describe a low-cost, two-step synthesis of composites of nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (NCDs) with γ-Fe2O3 (NCDs/γ-Fe2O3), which is based on a hydrothermal cum co-precipitation method. The product is a fine powder of particles having an average diameter of 9 ± 3 nm. The physical and chemical properties of NCDs/γ-Fe2O3 were studied, as well as the superconducting quantum interference device and Mossbauer analysis of the magnetic properties of these nanocomposites. The interaction of NCDs/γ-Fe2O3 nanocomposites with neuron-like cells was examined, showing efficient uptake and low toxicity. Our research demonstrates the use of the nanocomposites for imaging and for controlling the cellular motility. The NCDs/γ-Fe2O3 nanocomposites are promising because of their biocompatibility, photostability, and potential selective affinity, paving the way for multifunctional biomedical applications.

Comparison of importance between separation efficiency and valence band position: The case of heterostructured Bi3O4Br/α-Bi2O3 photocatalysts

Heterostructured Bi3O4Br/α-Bi2O3 nanocomposites are prepared via in situ one-step self-combustion of ionic liquids. Tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) is employed to be fuel, complexing agent for ionic liquids, as well as the reactant supplying Br for the objective material. The ratio of Bi3O4Br/α-Bi2O3 can be easily adjusted by controlling the amount of TBAB. The heterojunctions show higher photocatalytic ability towards both azo dye methyl orange (MO) and colorless pollutant phenol. The electron spin resonance (ESR) test and p-nitro blue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) degradation result indicate that generation amounts of superoxide anion radicals (O2−) over heterojunctions are less than that over pure Bi3O4Br. Photoelectrochemical measurements show that separation efficiencies of photo-generated electrons and holes are decreased after the combination of Bi3O4Br and α-Bi2O3. Work function test and scavenger experiments display that holes play key role for pollutant degradation and the position of holes on α-Bi2O3 is lowered via hybridization. Thus, the enhanced photocatalytic activity over composites can be attributed to the position decline of α-Bi2O3 valence band, thus improving the reactivity of holes in direct oxidation of pollutants. In this case, valence band position is confirmed to be more important than separation efficiency of charge carriers in affecting photocatalytic performance.

Ti0.85Sn0.15O2 nanocomposite: an efficient semiconductor photocatalyst for degradation of pesticides under solar light

Heterogeneous semiconductor photocatalyst (Ti0.85Sn0.15O2) was synthesized by addition of TiO2 solution into Sn(OH)4 solution via sol–gel method using docusate sodium salt surfactant as model controlling agent while annealing at 800 °C. The structural, morphological and crystalline features of the synthesized sample were explored by using different microscopic and spectrophotometric techniques. The quantitative phase analysis and Rietveld refinement of XRD spectra was done to confirm the formation of Ti0.85 Sn0.15O2 nanocomposite. Optical electronegativity and refractive index was determined by using band gap energy. Their photocatalytic activity was estimated by using chlorpyrifos (CP) a class of organophosphorus pesticides, as a model of organic pollutants under solar light irradiations.

Extracorporeal magnetic approach to reduce the unwanted side-effects and improve antibacterial activity of Ag/Fe3 O4 nanocomposites in rat.

While Ag nanoparticles hold great promise for broad spectrum antibacterial activity, the potential risks of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on human health remain a challenge. In this study, Ag/Fe3 O4 composites have been successfully prepared and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and their magnetic and antibacterial properties have been assessed. In vivo results show that the antibacterial effect of 500 μg/mL Ag/Fe3 O4 nanocomposites was significantly higher than that of 1000 μg/mL AgNPs after 72 h of treatment (p < 0.01). Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining showed that squamous epithelium and dermis collagen fibers formed in the Ag/Fe3 O4 group after 8 days treatment. Wound closure was significantly better for the Ag/Fe3 O4 group than for the AgNPs group. On the other hand, there was less Ag in blood, liver, and kidney in the Ag/Fe3 O4 group, as more Ag was retained in the wound. According to lactate dehydrogenase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and reactive oxygen species results, Ag/Fe3 O4 nanocomposites caused less unwanted side-effects. This work presents a new paradigm to reduce the unwanted side-effects of AgNPs and improve their antibacterial activity, providing a new avenue for wound healing. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 2029-2036, 2018.

Modification of chitosan-Fe3O4 microspheres with isophorone diisocyanate and formation of polyurethane/mchitosan-Fe3O4 antimicrobial polymer

ABSTRACTPolyurethane/modified chitosan-Fe3O4 (PU/mCS-Fe3O4) nanocomposites were prepared by incorporating chitosan-Fe3O4 (CS-Fe3O4) into PU through chemical grafting using isophorone diisocyante (IPDI). The isocyanate group of IPDI was introduced on the surface of CS-Fe3O4 nanocomposites. The chemical functionalities of the CS-Fe3O4 and mCS-Fe3O4 were verified by Fourier-transform infrared and X-ray diffraction. The structure and properties were confirmed by scanning electron microscope, vibrating sample magnetometer, thermogravimetric analysis, atomic force microscope, and tensile testing. The experimental results indicate that thermal stability, tensile strength, and storage modulus of nanocomposites were improved with the increasing content of mCS-Fe3O4. Meanwhile, PU/mCS-Fe3O4 nanocomposites have less cytotoxicity and good antibacterial activities againstEscherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

Synthesis of graphene/α-Fe2O3 nanospindles by hydrothermal assembly and their lithium storage performance

Nanocomposite of graphene/α-Fe2O3 (G/α-Fe2O3) nanospindles was synthesized by a simple hydrothermal assembly method followed by thermal treatment. The α-Fe2O3 nanospindles were evenly enwrapped by the graphene nanosheets. When evaluated as an anode for Li-ion batteries (LIBs), the G/α-Fe2O3 nanocomposite showed enhanced cycling performance and rate capability compared to pure α-Fe2O3. G/α-Fe2O3 retained a reversible capacity of 607mAhg−1 after 100 cycles at 100mAg−1-, which is far higher than that (160mAhg−1) of α-Fe2O3. The superior electrochemical performance of G/α-Fe2O3 can be attributed to the protection effect of graphene nanosheets to accommodate the volume change of α-Fe2O3 during lithiation/delithiation.

Monodisperse and mesoporous walnut kernel-like SiO2/γ-Fe2O3 nanocomposite: Synthesis, magnetic properties, and application in drug delivery

Mesoporous and magnetic nanomaterials have attracted great attention owing to their unique characteristics and promising applications in drug delivery. In this context, a novel method has been developed to engineer a nanostructure of unique walnut kernel-like SiO2/γ-Fe2O3 nanocomposite by incorporating magnetic γ-Fe2O3 crystallites into mesoporous SiO2 nanospheres to exert their synergistic properties. The as-obtained SiO2/γ-Fe2O3 nanospheres may be applied as a promising drug carrier due to suitable their advantages such as suitable particle size, mesoporous structure, large specific surface area, high biocompatibility, good loading capacity, and long efficiency time of the drug release behavior. In particular, the composite exhibits intense magnetic property, which may lead to the development of nanocomposite with great potential for applications in drug targeting and magnetic hyperthermia therapy.

Spectroelectrochemistry and electrosynthesis of polypyrrole supercapacitor electrodes based on gamma aluminum oxide and gamma iron (III) oxide nanocomposites

Polypyrrole (PPy) and polypyrrole-based gamma aluminum oxide (γ-Al2O3) and gamma iron (III) oxide (γ-Fe2O3) nanocomposites were synthesized via in situ electropolymerization methods Films were characterized via cyclic voltammetry (CV) and in situ spectroelectrochemistry methods such as in situ UV–Visible spectroscopy and in situ conductivity measurements. Polymer nanocomposite structures and morphologies were studied and characterized via Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). According to the CV results of the nanocomposites, the separation of anodic and cathodic peak potential of the redox couples (ΔE) exhibited good reversibility with a positive potential shift compared with PPy during redox sweeps. The electrochemical properties of PPy, PPy/γ-Fe2O3, and PPy/γ-Al2O3 nanocomposite electrodes in a solution of H2SO4 were studied via CV, galvanostatic charge–discharge, and EIS measurements to understand the pseudocapacitance that formed due to oxidation and reduction reactions over the double layer capacitance. Results for the nanocomposites revealed that they were very good candidates for supercapacitor applications, with higher specific capacitances, cyclic self-stabilities, and better rate capabilities than those of PPy films. The specific capacitance values of PPy/γ-Fe2O3 (106F/g) and PPy/γ-Al2O3 (92F/g) nanocomposites based on a three-electrode cell configuration from galvanostatic charge–discharge at a constant current density of 1A/g were higher than that for PPy (75F/g).

Structural and properties correlation in PANI–Mo doped CoFe2O4 nanocomposite

PANI–CoFe1.9Mo0.1O4 nano-composites were synthesized with different weight ratio applying the citrate and in situ polymerization methods. Testing the functionality of the obtained nanocomposite is performed utilizing X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscope and FTIR spectroscopy. XRD structural analysis revealed the increase of lattice parameter, crystallite size and the lattice microstrain of embedded ferrite as the amount of PANI increases in the nanocomposite. Refined structural parameters are correlated with the lattice mismatch between ferrite and PANI. Magnetic measurements manifested that the saturation magnetization (Ms) and remanent magnetization (Mr) increase while the coercive field (Hc) first increases then slightly decreases as the ferrite content increases in nanocomposite. The frequency dependence of dielectric constant (e), dielectric loss (tanδ), a.c. conductivity (σac) and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (SE) have been studied in the range 42 Hz–5 MHz at room temperature. Results indicated the a.c. conductivity of nano composite is higher than pure PANI and the SE has high value at low frequency.

Synthesis of polyaniline/α-Fe2O3 nanocomposite electrode material for supercapacitor applications

Polyaniline/Ferric oxide (PANI/α-Fe2O3) nanocomposites were synthesized via a simple precipitation of FeCl3 using NH4OH as the precipitating agent, followed by in situ polymerization of aniline. PXRD pattern of as-synthesized nanocomposites showed characteristic peaks of α-Fe2O3 in the PANI matrix. Structural and morphological characterization confirmed the encapsulation of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles in PANI matrix to form PANI/α-Fe2O3 nanostructures. PANI/α-Fe2O3 as an electrode material for supercapacitor exhibited a maximum specific capacitance of 974 Fg−1 at a scan rate of 2 mVs−1 using CV and Csp of 857 Fg−1 at a current density of 0.2 Ag−1 using CP. Further, the material also exhibited a high energy density of 118 Wh kg−1 with a maximum power density of 9.8kWkg−1 and an excellent cyclic stability with capacitance retention of about 94% after 2000 cycles. These superior electrochemical results over bare PANI and α-Fe2O3 shows the PANI/α-Fe2O3 nanocomposites to be promising electrode material for high performance energy storage systems.