Exploring the Synergistic Effect of a PANI/Cr2O3/Graphene Nanocomposite in a Hybrid Gel Electrolyte for Supercapacitor Performance.

This study focuses on the large-scale production of a high-energy-density supercapacitor through the cost-effective polymerization of a PANI/Cr₂O₃/graphene nanocomposite, utilizing commercially available flexible substrate and cost-effective chemicals. To explore the synergistic effect, a PANI/Cr₂O₃/graphene nanocomposite is evaluated in a hybrid gel electrolyte with varying polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) concentrations. The investigation is aimed at enhancing the electrochemical performance of electrode material for supercapacitors. Two symmetric devices are fabricated to assess the specific capacitance and energy density of the prepared nanocomposite. In the PVA_2g/Na₂SO₄ electrolyte, the energy density is increased to 61.71 Wh kg⁻¹, accompanied by an enhanced potential window of 1.95 V. Furthermore, the prepared composite demonstrates good electrochemical stability, retaining 94% of its initial capacitance after 2000 cycles at 2 Ag⁻¹ in 2 g PVA/Na₂SO₄ gel electrolyte. The remarkable electrochemical properties of the composite can be attributed to the effective contact and synergistic effect among PANI, Cr₂O₃, and graphene, making it a promising candidate for supercapacitor applications. Moreover, this facile process is easily scalable to meet commercial demands and can be utilized to enhance the energy density of various carbon-based materials with limited initial performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]