Electrochemical Analysis of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Magnetic Iron Oxide Composite Nanofibers for Supercapacitor Applications

The supercapacitor is an achievable electrochemical energy storage device with exceptional cycle stability, quick charging time, and high power density, allowing it to be used in a variety of applications. The electrode, as a major component, has a significant impact on the specific capacitance and efficiency of the supercapacitor. To improve the conductivity the Magnetic iron oxid nanoparticle was added to the PVA nanofibers. The magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared by using Ferric Chloride and iron (II) sulfate heptahydrate in alkaline medium. The morphology and chemical composition of the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers and polyvinyl alcohol/magnetic iron oxide PVA/Fe3O4 nanocomposite fibers were characterized by Scanning electron microscopy(SEM), thermogravimetry(TGA), energy dispersive X-ray( EDX) analyses and FTIR analysis. Using Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), the electrochemical characteristics of PVA nanofibers and PVA/Fe3O4 composite nanofibers as a supercapacitor electrode material was investigated. PVA nanofibers and PVA/Fe3O4 nanocomposite were made by electrospinning in this work and then investigated as electrode materials for supercapacitors. The experimental results show that the PVA/Fe3O4 nanocomposite has a higher specific capacitance of 168 F/g than the PVA nanofibers (5.6 F/g). According to the findings PVA/Fe3O4 nanocomposite with high specific capacitance have a prospective use as supercapacitor electrodes.