Polyaniline nanowire electrodes with high capacitance synthesized by a simple approach

Polyaniline (PANI) nanowire electrodes were successfully synthesized by electrodeposition using starch as template. The electrodes were characterized with scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction technique. SEM images showed that the electrodes electrodeposited using the starch template had nanowire morphology, but the PANI electrodeposited in absent solution had agglomerate block morphology. Cyclic voltammograms at different scan rates and charge–discharge tests were performed in 0.5 M H2SO4 aqueous solution. The PANI nanowire electrodes had a high capacitance (882 F g− 1) and a high stability (5% capacity loss after 500 cycles).

► Polyaniline nanowire electrodes were successfully synthesized by electrodeposition using starch as template.
► The PANI nanowire electrodes had a high capacitance (882 F g− 1).
► The PANI nanowire electrodes had a high stability (5% capacity loss after 500 cycles).