An eco-friendly polycaprolactone/graphite composite as a robust freestanding electrode platform for supercapacitive energy storage

Abstract

We present the successful development and characterization of a novel eco-friendly polycaprolactone–graphite (PCLGr) composite as a freestanding platform, serving as a bulk conducting chip electrode for supercapacitor applications. Notably, this is the first report of using this biodegradable polymer for making such a self-standing conductive platform. Traditional polymer and carbon-based electrodes often rely on insulating supports or non-eco-friendly materials, which we have addressed in our work. Direct deposition of the redox material, polyaniline (PANI), onto the electrode via the galvanostatic method has been achieved. The specific capacitance of PANI demonstrates comparability to previous studies utilizing conventional current collectors. Notably, the electrode exhibits exceptional stability in highly acidic environments. Comprehensive characterization utilizing bulk conductivity measurements, XRD, TGA, DSC, SEM, and stress–strain analyses shows advanced properties of the electrode. It complements the evaluation of PANI's supercapacitive performance through cyclic voltammetry, charge–discharge measurements, and impedance spectroscopy. We achieved a specific capacitance of ≈162 F g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹. This innovative electrode presents a promising alternative to conventional counterparts across various electrochemical applications.