High-performance VO2/CNT@PANI with core–shell construction enable printable in-planar symmetric supercapacitors.

[Display omitted] • Use of a university two-step strategy to construct 3D VO 2 /CNT@PANI with core–shell architecture. • Taking full advantage of the synergistic effect, the optimal VO 2 /CNT@PANI exhibits superior electrochemical performances. • Fabrication of a full-printable in-planar symmetric supercapacitor with a remarkable areal energy density and cycling life. • Great potential application prospects in the field of portable/wearable electronics. As a progressive electronic energy storage device, the flexible supercapacitor holds tremendous promise for powering wearable/portable electronic products. Of various pseudocapacitor materials, vanadium dioxide (VO 2) has garnered extensive attention due to its impressive theoretical capacitance. However, the challenges of inferior cycling life and lower energy density to be addressed. Herein, we prepare VO 2 nanorods with winding carbon nanotubes (CNT) via a facile solvothermal route, followed by in situ polymerization of polyaniline (PANI) shell. Taking full advantage of the synergistic effect, the VO 2 /CNT@PANI composite delivers a high specific capacitance of 354.2F/g at 0.5 A/g and a long cycling life of ∼ 88.2 % over 5000 cycles resulting from the enhanced conductivity of CNT and stabilization of PANI shell. By screen printing the formulated inks with outstanding rheological behaviours, we manufacture an in-planar VO 2 /CNT@PANI symmetric supercapacitor (VO 2 /CNT@PANI SSC) device featuring an orderly arrangement structure. This device yields a remarkable areal energy density of 99.57 μWh/cm2 at a power density of 387.5 μW/cm2 while retaining approximately ∼ 87.6 % of its initial capacitance after prolonged use. Furthermore, we successfully powered a portable game machine for more than 2 min using two SSCs connected in series with ease. Therefore, this work presents a universal strategy that utilises combination and coating to boost electrochemical performance for flexible high-performance supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]