Synthesis of polyaniline/tin oxide hybrid and its improved electrochemical capacitance performance

A polyaniline/tin oxide hybrid, which has a conductivity of 3-6S cm(-1) at 25 degrees C, has been prepared by the oxidative polymerization of aniline with the simultaneous hydrolysis of SnCl4 and an appropriate post-processing temperature. As an electrode material, 5-20 nm pore-dominated polyaniline/tin oxide hybrid gave an improved electrochemical capacitance performance due to providing an effective electrochemical accessibility of electrolyte solution. The charge/discharge tests showed that the polyaniline/tin oxide hybrid had a higher specific capacitance than that of polyaniline with a growth of current density from 1.0 Ag-1 to 30 Ag-1, and the specific capacitance of polyaniline/tin oxide hybrid still reached 325 Fg(-1) at a constant current density of 30 Ag-1, but that of polyaniline was about 180 Fg(-1). (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.