Capacitance Properties of Electrochemically Synthesised Polybithiophene-Graphene Exfoliated Composite Films

Abstract

The graphene (GR) has attracted intensive interest due to its two-dimensional and unique physical properties. In the present study, the graphene sheets were synthesized by electrochemical exfoliation of graphite in sulfuric acid solution. The polybithiophene-graphene (PbTh-GR) composite films deposited onto indium tin oxide substrate (ITO/PbTh-GR) have been prepared by the incorporation of graphene sheets into the PbTh matrix during electropolymerization under magnetic stirring from the LiClO4/CH3CN electrolyte containing the bithiophene (bTh) monomer and graphene sheets. The incorporation of graphene sheets at different masses (1, 2 and 3 mg) is ensured by the effect of the stirring of the electrolyte. The characterisation of films is effected by electrochemical methods (cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy), spectroscopic technics (FT-IR, UV-Visible), X ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. It was observed that the electrochemical performance measurements of the ITO/PbTh-GR (3 mg) film show a specific capacity of around 65 F/g, which is six times higher than that of ITO/PbTh films, 11 F/g

Keywords

• graphene
• polybithiophene
• chronoamperometry
• composite film
• specific capacitance