High electrochemical capacity of novel ternary graphene oxide based PANI/Co3O4 nanocomposite as supercapacitor electrode material

This study introduces a novel GO/PANI/Co3O4 ternary nanocomposite synthesized through a cost-effective coprecipitation method for supercapacitor applications. Comprehensive characterizations using XRD reveal the amorphous diffraction patterns of PANI, the hexagonal symmetry of GO, and the presence of Co3O4 with high crystallinity. The nanocomposite exhibits a unique lattice parameter, indicating its distinctive structural features. SEM and TEM analyses depict the amorphous nature of PANI, irregularly shaped Co3O4 particles, and the successful incorporation of Co3O4 nanoparticles into the PANI matrix in the PANI/Co3O4 nanocomposite. Moreover, the GO/PANI/Co3O4 nanocomposite displays layers of GO arranged alongside polyaniline and Co3O4 nanocrystals, with Co3O4 nanoparticles anchored on the surface. EDX analysis confirms the elemental arrangement and purity of the nanocomposite, validating the presence of graphene oxide, polyaniline, and cobalt oxide. UV-Vis spectroscopy reveals a bandgap value of 1.79 eV for the GO/PANI/Co3O4 nanocomposite, indicating its enhanced light absorption capability compared to GO. Electrochemical studies, including EIS, CV, and GCD analyses, provide insights into the nanocomposite's performance. EIS demonstrates minimal charge transfer resistance in the GO/PANI/Co3O4 nanocomposite. CV analysis highlights its capacitive behavior, with specific capacitance reaching 4800 Fg- 1 at a current density of 1 Ag-1 in 1 M KOH. GCD analysis further reveals a nonlinear behavior, with a power density ranging from 359.19 to 653.76 Wkg-1 and an energy density ranging from 47.24 to 20.82 WhKg-1. The nanocomposite exhibits excellent cycle stability, retaining 84 % of its initial capacitance after 2100 cycles. Comparative analysis with other reported works underlines the superior electrochemical performance of the GO/PANI/Co3O4 nanocomposite.