Hierarchical polypyrrole based composites for high performance asymmetric supercapacitors

•The polypyrrole based electrodes were prepared via a facile electrodeposited method.•The composite possesses excellent performance and provides an ideal cathode for supercapacitor.•The assembled asymmetric supercapacitor exhibits superior energy and power densities.

An advanced asymmetric supercapacitor with high energy density, exploiting hierarchical polypyrrole (PPy) based composites as both the anode [three dimensional (3D) chuzzle-like Ni@PPy@MnO2] and (3D cochleate-like Ni@MnO2@PPy) cathode, has been developed. The ultrathin PPy and flower-like MnO2 orderly coating on the high-conductivity 3D-Ni enhance charge storage while the unique 3D chuzzle-like and 3D cochleate-like structures provide storage chambers and fast ion transport pathways for benefiting the transport of electrolyte ions. The 3D cochleate-like Ni@MnO2@PPy possesses excellent pseudocapacitance with a relatively negative voltage window while preserved EDLC and free transmission channels conducive to hold the high power, providing an ideal cathode for the asymmetric supercapacitor. It is the first report of assembling hierarchical PPy based composites as both the anode and cathode for asymmetric supercapacitor, which exhibits wide operation voltage of 1.3–1.5 V with maximum energy and power densities of 59.8 Wh kg−1 and 7500 W kg−1.

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