Preparation and Electrochemical Characterization of Porous SWNT-PPy Nanocomposite Sheets for Supercapacitor Applications

J. Oh, M.E. Kozlov, R.H. Baughman
University of Texas at Dallas, US

Keywords: carbon nanotubes, polypyrrole, capacitance

Abstract:

Highly porous sheets comprised of Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes and doped polypyrrole (SWNT-PPy) were prepared by vacuum filtration of SWNT-PPy methanol dispersions. The employed preparation procedure is an extension of conventional bucky-paper fabrication method for the multi-component system. A number of nanocomposites with nominal SWNT:PPy compositions ranging from 1:0 to 1:1 were obtained and tested. Electrochemical properties of the nanocomposites were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic spectroscopy technique in aqueous 1M NaCl electrolyte. The highest specific capacitance of 131 F/g was obtained for nanocomposite with 1:1 SWNT:PPy ratio. Prospective applications of prepared materials range from supercapacitors to electrodes for batteries and electromechanical actuators.