Nanoclay-based hierarchical interconnected mesoporous CNT/PPy electrode with improved specific capacitance for high...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Montmorillonite nanoclay is abundant, eco-friendly, and possesses active sites for various applications.
• Its role in supercapacitor energy storage performance remains largely unexplored.
• Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and polypyrrole (PPy) are known for their electrochemical properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and investigate nanoclay-based hierarchical porous electrode materials for supercapacitors.
• To explore the doping effect of montmorillonite nanoclay on the electrochemical performance of CNTs/PPy composites.
• To evaluate the energy storage capabilities and stability of these novel nanocomposites.

Main Methods:

• Facile in situ and ex situ synthesis of hierarchical porous electrode materials using montmorillonite nanoclay, CNTs, and PPy.
• Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) for structural analysis.
• Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charging-discharging (GCD) for electrochemical performance evaluation.

Main Results:

• A nanoclay-supported hierarchical interconnected mesoporous framework was successfully synthesized.
• Nanoclay incorporation significantly enhanced specific capacitance: 425 F g⁻¹ (in situ) and 317 F g⁻¹ (ex situ), compared to PPy-coated CNTs (76.77 F g⁻¹).
• Composites demonstrated excellent stability, retaining 94% of initial capacitance after 2000 cycles.

Conclusions:

• Montmorillonite nanoclay acts as an effective dopant, substantially improving supercapacitor performance.
• The hierarchical porous structure facilitates ion and electron transport, enabling high rate capability.
• The developed nanoclay-based nanocomposites show significant potential for advanced supercapacitor applications.