Preparation and electrochemical performance of poly(3-acetylpyrrole)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes composites

Poly(3-acetylpyrrole) (PAPy)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) composites are fabricated by in situ chemical polymeriation of 3-acetylpyrrole (APy) on MWNTs. The electrical and electrochemical properties of the resulting composites are investigated using a four-probe method, and cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques, respectively. The electrical conductivity and specific capacitance of the composites are 1.64 S cm−1 and 65 F g−1 (APy:MWNTs=2.5:1), and 0.35 S cm−1 and 53 F g−1 (APy:MWNTs=5:1), respectively. In addition, the effect of the feed ratio of APy to MWNTs is also discussed in detail.

► PAPy/MWNTs composites are first fabricated via in situ chemical polymeriation of APy on MWNTs.
► The morphology, electrical and electrochemical properties of PAPy/MWNTs composites are investigated in detail.
► The relationship between properties of PAPy/MWNTs composites and the effect of the feed ratio of APy to MWNTs are discussed.