High capacitance properties of polyaniline by electrochemical deposition on a porous carbon substrate

Electrochemical deposition of polyaniline (PANI) is carried out on a porous carbon substrate for supercapacitor studies. The effect of substrate is studied by comparing the results obtained using platinum, stainless steel and porous carbon substrates. PANI deposited at 100 mV s⁻¹ sweep rate by potentiodynamic technique on porous carbon substrate is found to possess superior capacitance properties. Experimental variables, namely, concentrations of aniline monomer and H₂SO₄ supporting electrolyte are varied and arrived at the optimum concentrations to obtain a maximum capacitance of PANI. Low concentrations of both aniline and H₂SO₄, which produce PANI at low rates, are desirable. The PANI deposits prepared under these conditions possess network morphology of nanofibrils. Capacitance values as high as 1600 F g⁻¹ are obtained and PANI coated carbon electrodes facilitate charge-discharge current densities as high as 45 mA cm⁻² (19.8 A g⁻¹). Electrodes are found to be fairly stable over a long cycle-life, although there is some capacitance loss during the initial stages of cycling.