Facile microwave synthesis of cerium hydroxide-integrated polyaniline nanocomposites as high-efficiency supercapacitor electrodes
S. A. Al‐Ghamdi, Syed Khasim, P.E. Lokhande, Taymour A. Hamdalla, Meshari M. Aljohani, Abdulrhman M. Alsharari, Adnan Almasoudi
Abstract
This study presents an ultrafast microwave-assisted synthesis of a cerium hydroxide (Ce(OH)₃)–polyaniline (PANI) nanocomposite engineered for energy storage applications. The influence of varying PANI content on electrochemical performance was systematically investigated and compared with pristine Ce(OH)₃. Physicochemical characterization revealed a porous morphology beneficial for ion transport and charge storage, crucial for supercapacitor applications. Among the composites, the optimized sample with 5 % PANI exhibited an impressive specific capacitance of 1505 F g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.5 A g⁻¹ , along with excellent rate capability and cycling stability. Utilizing this optimized material, an all-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor was fabricated with activated carbon as the negative electrode. The device achieved an energy density of 21.1 Wh kg⁻¹ and a power density of 786.7 W kg⁻¹ , coupled with low internal resistance, underscoring its practical potential. Remarkably, the device retained over 100 % of its initial capacitance after 10,000 charge–discharge cycles, highlighting its exceptional durability. These results demonstrate the synergistic role of PANI in enhancing the electrochemical properties of Ce(OH)₃-based nanocomposites, positioning them as promising candidates for next-generation supercapacitor technologies.