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Effectively Improving Capacitive Performance of Three‐Dimensional Iron(III) Oxide Nanotube Arrays by Rationally Filling Mesopores with Polypyrrole
Author(s) -
Wang Zhikui,
Pan Qinmin
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemelectrochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.182
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 2196-0216
DOI - 10.1002/celc.201600244
Subject(s) - materials science , polypyrrole , mesoporous material , electrode , nanotube , capacitive sensing , capacitance , supercapacitor , nanotechnology , electrochemistry , oxide , nanomaterials , polymerization , conductive polymer , chemical engineering , polymer , composite material , carbon nanotube , computer science , chemistry , biochemistry , engineering , metallurgy , operating system , catalysis
Fe 2 O 3 is a promising electrode material for electrochemical capacitors, but challenges remain in enhancing its capacitive performance. Herein, we effectively improved the capacitive properties of 3D Fe 2 O 3 nanotube arrays by partly filling their mesopores with polypyrrole (PPy) through vapor‐phase polymerization. Although the filled PPy was only 9.7 wt %, the resulting hybrid Fe 2 O 3 /PPy arrays tripled the specific capacitance to 367 F g −1 at 1.0 A g −1 , doubled their high rate capability (106 F g −1 at 10 A g −1 ), and exhibited good cycling stability at high current density. The capacitive performances of the hybrid arrays are among the best for Fe 2 O 3 ‐based electrodes. It is believed that the partly filled mesopores not only increase the electronic conductivity and electroactivity of each hybrid nanotube but also avoid blocking the ion‐diffusion path. All the features allow the arrays to exhibit synergetic pseudocapacitive properties and to maintain stable and fast electrochemical kinetics. Our findings provide an efficient strategy to boost the electrochemical performances of transition‐metal oxide nanomaterials by rationally filling their mesopores with a small amount of a conductive polymer.