One-dimensional polyaniline thorn/BiOCl chip heterostructures: self-sacrificial template-induced synthesis and electrochemical performance

Abstract

A simple and green strategy was proposed for the first time to fabricate uniform polyaniline (PANi) thorn/BiOCl chip (BPB) heterostructures at a low temperature without the assistance of any surfactant. During the synthetic process, Bi₂S₃ nanowires acted as both the sacrificial template and the Bi source for BiOCl, affording the synchronous formation of HCl-doped PANi conductive arrays and BiOCl chips supported on residual Bi₂S₃ nanowires. As expected, when utilized as electrode materials for supercapacitors, the obtained BPB nanocomposite exhibited a better electrochemical performance in neutral media with enhanced specific capacitance, a more acceptable rate capability and a smaller charge-transfer resistance in comparison with the individual PANi nanofibers due to the unique hierarchical nanostructure of BPB and the synergistic effect between the ionizable BiOCl and the PANi chain.