PPy modified titanium foam electrode with high performance for supercapacitor

•In-situ growth of PPy particles on titanium foam without any adhesion agent.•The high specific capacitance of the electrode is 855 F/g at a discharge current density of 1 A/g.•The cycle stability of the electrode in charge–discharge cycling of 1150 cycles is excellent.

Pyrrole was polymerized on the surface of titanium foam using FeCl3 as oxidant and the as-synthesized product could be directly used as electrode for supercapacitor. The globular polypyrrole (PPy) particles were firmly loaded on the substrate with high density. The morphology study of PPy film is observed in SEM images, the XRD, FTIR and UV–vis spectra reveal the structure and crystalline of PPy nanoparticles. The electrochemical properties of PPy modified electrode are investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD) and cycle life techniques. The electrochemical measurements showed such a PPy–Ti electrode had a wide working potential window, a high specific capacitance of 855 F g−1 and excellent cycle stability at a discharge current density of 1 A g−1.

Graphical abstractThe electrode with the globular polypyrrole (PPy) directly grow on the substrate of titanium foam via the redox reaction between pyrrole and FeCl3 exhibited the high specific capacitance and excellent cycling stability.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide