A novel WO₃/graphene composite using poly(ionic liquid) as a linker for enhanced supercapacitive performance

WO₃ has attracted widespread attention as an important semiconductor for supercapacitors. However, applications of WO₃ are limited by its poor performance regarding capacitance and conductivity. In this paper, a novel method is presented for preparing a WO₃/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) composite, based on poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) as a linker. PIL enables a tight contact between WO₃ and graphene to exploit the excellent electrical conductivity of graphene. Results of the morphology for the as-prepared WO₃/PIL/RGO composite indicate that the WO₃ nanoparticles are distributed uniformly on the surface of the RGO. The WO₃/PIL/RGO electrode displays a much higher specific capacitance, 316 F g^-1 at 1 A g^-1, than that of the pure WO₃ electrode. Furthermore, WO₃/PIL/RGO also has good rate and long cycling performance for supercapacitors, making it a promising electrode material.