Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University

Department of Physics

Project topic

“Carbon Nanofibers based conducting polymer

nanocomposite for Supercapacitor application”

Guided by Presented by
Prof S. B. Kondawar Rounak R. Atram
 Introduction :
With the continuously growing energy demand and ever-escalating
environmental problems, the great energy transition from
conventional fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy is under
way, and requires more efficient and reliable electrochemical energy
storage devices.
• Electrochemical energy storage devices such as batteries, fuel
cell, supercapacitor.
• A battery converts chemical energy into electrical energy by a
chemical reaction.
• A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical
energy from a fuel into electricity through an electrochemical
reaction of hydrogen fuel with oxygen or another oxidizing agent.
• A supercapacitor is a specially designed capacitor which has a
very large capacitance.
Ragone plot showing energy density which is in (Wh/kg) versus  power
density which is in (W/kg) for various energy-storing devices
• Among varies energy storage system, an electrochemical capacitor, also
called as supercapacitor or ultracapacitor has been extensively studied.

• Due to its high power density , long cycle life , rapid charging and
discharging rate and long term operation stability, supercapacitor may
considered to be one of the most promising alternative for future
sustainable energy supply .

• On the basis energy storage mechanism they are classified into two type
Electrical double layer capacitor and Pseudocapacitor.

• Electrical double layer capacitors are generally carbon material exhibit

good stability and favourable flexibility.

• Pseudocapacitor including metal oxides and conducting polymers have

been displayed favourable high energy density.
Electric Double layer Capacitor

Pseudocapacitor
 Hybrid Capacitor:

• Hybrid capacitor used to exploit the relative

advantage and overcome the relative
disadvantages of electric double layer
capacitor and pseudocapacitor to realize
better performance characteristics.

• There are three types of hybrid capacitor

which are distinguished by their electrode
configuration composite, asymmetric and
battery types.
 Principle of Supercapacitors:
Supercapacitors do not contain a dielectric block.

• The electrical double layer are formed in the electrolyte surrounding the
particles, leading to effective separation of charge on the order of nanometer
scale.

• The area of the electrical double layer depends on the surface area of the
particles.

• High capacitances result from the practical-sized packages.

• Since the capacitance of these devices is proportional to the active electrode

area, increasing the electrode surface area will increase the capacitance, hence
increasing the amount of energy that can be stored.

• The electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC) is ideal for energy storage that
undergoes frequent charge and discharge cycles at high current and short
duration.
• Researchers have developed various carbonaceous materials for
supercapacitor electrodes, including activated carbons , graphenes, carbon
nanotubes and carbon naofibers.

• Among these materials, carbon nanofibers (CNF) mat can be prepared through
electrospining exhibit favourable specific surface area, porosity, and
mechanical strength, high capacitance, power density and long cycle life but
charge storage capacity much lower than secondary batteries.

• These limitations overcome by hybrid capacitor consisting of EDLC and

pseudocapacitance as contain conducting polymer, carbon material and metal
oxide as electrode material for electrochemical capacitor.

• ZnO/CNF through one step electrospining followed by stabilization and

carbonization process. PANI encapsulated ZnO/CNF nanocomposites were
prepared by in-situ polymerization and tested as potential candidates for the
electrodes of supercapacitor.
Applications for Supercapacitors
• Back up for uninterruptable power supplies (UPS).
• Light weight power supplies for small aircraft.
• Provide short duration power for various vehicle systems such as breaking
or steering.
• Used to absorb power during short periods of generation such as
Regenerative Braking.
• Extend range and battery life in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV).
Electrospinning Process:
Electrospinning is fiber production method which uses electric force to
draw charged threads of polymer solutions or polymer melts up to fiber
diameter in the order of some hundred nanometers.
• The surface of polymer droplet held
by its own surface tension at the tip
of needle electrode.
• The interaction of the electrical
charges in the polymer droplet with
the external electric field cause the
droplet to assume a conical shape,
known as Taylor cone.
• When the surface tension of the fluid
can be overcome, the droplet
becomes unstable and a liquid jet is
eject out
Lab designed electrospinning instrument
Synthesis
and
Characterization
Synthesis of CNF/PANI
Synthesis

10 Wt % PAN +20 ml DMF

Electrospinning

Stabilization at 250 oC &

carbonization at 600 oC

Increase hydrophilicity in 7 M
HNO3 solution

Polymerization of aniline in
presence of CNF

CNF/PANI Composite
 Scanning Electron Microscopy with EDX:

CNF nanofibers CP
composite
SEM image of CNF and CNF-ZnO demonstrates uniform diameter distribution at low range
which indicate stable electrospinning process with size of fibers in nanoscale. SEM images of
CP and CZP composites indicate the agglomeration of PANI particles over the carbonized
fibers of carbon in powder form.
EDX is an analytical technique used for the elemental analysis or chemical
characterization of a sample. The presence of carbon, zinc, oxygen in
PANI/ZnO/CNF indicate the formation of composite material

CNF-ZnO nanofibers CZP composite EDX of CZP

 UV-VIS Spectra:
The absorption band at 449 nm
corresponds to represents polaronic
peak representing the protonation of
the polyaniline and the band at 579 nm
confirm the presence of conducting
emaraldine salt phase of the polymer.
 Cyclic Voltammetry:
CV is suitable tool to characterize the
capacitive behavior of electrode
materials. The CV of CP and CZP are
performed by cycling the potential of a
working electrode, and measuring
current with the scan rate of 10 mV/s in
1M H2SO4. The quasi-rectangular shape
with redox cathodic and anodic peaks in
CV indicates the the effect of EDLC and
pseudocapacitance in the composites.
While comparing CV of CP and CZP,
more area covered by CZP indicates
higher specific capacitance.
Specific capacitances Cs can be calculated as:

𝑪 𝒔=
∫ 𝑰 𝒅𝒗
𝒎𝑽 𝑺
Energy Density can be calculated as:

𝟏
𝑬= 𝑪𝒔𝑽 𝟐
𝟐
Where,
• Cs=Specific capacitance
• Area under the curve,
• m = Active mass of composite material,
• V= Potential window,
• S= Scan rate
 Conclusion:

• The specific capacitance of CZP is found to be 615 F/gm which is higher

than that of CP which is having specific capacitance value 460 F/gm .

• Energy density of CZP and CP is found to be 85.41Wh/kg and 63.88 Wh/kg.

• Incorporation of ZnO in CNF/PANI increases the specific capacitance.

• The increase in specific capacitance of CZP is due to synergistic effect of

individual components of the composite. Carbon nanofibers based ternary
composites are potential candidates as supercapacitor electrodes.

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