High-Performance Gel Electrolyte Asymmetric Supercapacitor Based on Polypyrrole-Tungsten Disulfide Nanocomposite

In this work, a polypyrrole-tungsten disulfide (PPy-WS₂) nanocomposite was synthesized through oxidative polymerization and evaluated as an electrode material for supercapacitors. Structural and morphological analyses confirmed the successful integration of WS₂ within the PPy matrix. Electrochemical testing revealed a high specific capacitance of 816 F g^-1 at a scan rate of 1 mVs^-1, together with excellent cycling durability. To further assess device-level performance, an asymmetric supercapacitor was assembled using the PPy-WS₂ nanocomposite as the positive electrode, activated carbon as the negative electrode, and a PVA/KOH gel electrolyte. The device achieved an energy density of 41.6 Wh kg^-1 and a power density of 1500 W kg^-1, while maintaining 105% of its capacitance after 2500 charge-discharge cycles. The prototype was also able to power a light-emitting diode, highlighting its practical potential. These findings demonstrate that the synergistic coupling between polypyrrole and tungsten disulfide substantially improves electrochemical behaviour, positioning the PPy-WS₂ nanocomposite as a promising candidate for advanced energy storage applications.