Fabrication of polyaniline-few-layer MoS2 nanocomposite for high energy density supercapacitors

Polyaniline-few-layer molybdenum disulfide nanocomposite (PANI-MoS2) has been synthesized by in situ polymerization of aniline over MoS2 using HCl as the dopant. X-ray crystallographic studies show the characteristic peaks of few-layered MoS2 in the PANI matrix. The changes in Raman and UV-Vis spectra have proved that there are definite interactions between PANI and few-layer MoS2.PANI-MoS2 nanocomposite as an electrode material for supercapacitor exhibits a maximum specific capacitance of 687Fg(-1) at a scan rate of 5mVs(-1) using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and a C-sp of 612 Fg(-1) at a current density of 0.2Ag(-1) using chronopotentiometry (CP). Further, the material also exhibits a high energy density of 128Whkg(-1)with a maximum power density of 9.8kWkg(-1) and a tremendous cyclic stability with 93% capacitance retention after 2000 cycles. These superior electrochemical results over bare PANI and MoS2 showed the PANI-MoS2 nanocomposites to be a capable electrode material for energy storage systems.