Fabrication of 3D Spongia-shaped polyaniline/MoS2 nanospheres composite assisted by polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) for high-performance supercapacitors

This research paper describes a facile strategy to synthesize the novel 3D Spongia-shaped polyaniline/MoS2 nanospheres composite under the addition of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) (named sPANI/A-MoS2), and this composite displays excellent electrochemical properties as an electrode material for supercapacitors. The structure and morphology of the as-prepared 3D sPANI/A-MoS2 are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fouriertransform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS), Raman spectroscopy measurements and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Cyclic voltammograms (CV) and galvanostatic charging/discharging (GCD) tests are adopted to evaluate the electrochemical performances of the composite. All the results powerfully demonstrate the successful fabrication of 3D sPANI/A-MoS2. The maximum specific capacitance of this composite reaches up to 605 Fg(-1) at a current density of 1 Ag-1, and the energy density of 53.78 Wh kg(-1) is obtained at a power density of 0.4 kW kg(-1). Notably, the capacity retention of the as-fabricated sPANI/A-MoS2 composite electrode can maintain 88.6% (well above 59.8% for sPANI) after constant charge-discharge 1000 cycles, showing an excellent electrochemical stability. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.