Chemically patterned polyaniline arrays located on pyrolytic graphene for supercapacitors

Here we report a novel approach to fabricate pyrolytic graphene (RGO)-based composites with highly-oriented polyaniline (PANI) nanothorn arrays by solvothermal in-situ polymerization in a reverse microemulsion system. It has been found that monodispersed nanothorns (the tip of individual thorn is ∼20 nm in diameter) exist in a fiber-stacked form with successive, fiber-linked webs distributing at the bottom of the thorns, which uniformly grow on the exfoliated RGO sheets. With important advantages of large surface area, nano size and three-dimensional ion/electron transfer channels, such a unique superstructure as the electrode for supercapacitors delivers specific capacitances up to 595 and 438 F g−1 at 0.5 and 2 A g−1 (844 and 625 F g−1 at 0.5 and 2 A g−1 based on PANI loading in the composite), respectively, showing fairly high capacitance and good rate capability. And this architecture exhibits good cycle performance in prolonged cycling.