Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxypyrrole) Enwrapped Bi2S3 Nanoflowers for Rigid and Flexible Supercapacitors

•Highly conductive Bi2S3 hierarchical nanoflowers were prepared by a solvothermal route.•Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxypyrrole) or PEDOP/Bi2S3 hybrid and PEDOP films were fabricated by electropolymerization.•Nanoscale conductivity of the hybrid is ∼150 times higher than that of the polymer.•Substantial differential in the pseudocapacitances of the hybrid (1015 F g−1) and polymer (306 F g−1) at 0.1 A g−1.•Flexible supercapacitor constructed with the hybrid delivers a capacitance of 329 F g−1 at 0.4 Ag1.

A hybrid material composed of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxypyrrole) or (PEDOP) enwrapped Bi2S3 nanoflowers was synthesized for the first time for use as supercapacitor electrodes. The Bi2S3 nanoflowers were enveloped by a sheath of PEDOP, during the course of electropolymerization and uniform coatings of PEDOP/Bi2S3 hybrid were deposited on rigid and flexible current collectors. Asymmetric supercapacitors were constructed using the PEDOP/Bi2S3 hybrid and graphite (Gr) as working and counter electrodes. The electrochemical specific capacitance of the hybrid based cell (201 F g−1) was found to be 3.58 times greater than that of the pristine polymer (56 F g−1), at the same current density of 1 A g−1. The PEDOP/Bi2S3-Gr cell delivered energy and power densities of 100.5 Wh kg−1 and 0.5 kW kg−1 respectively. The Bi2S3 nanoflowers also furnish a robust support to PEDOP, which was reflected in an excellent rate capability, for the hybrid sustains high currents, without incurring a significant loss in capacitance, and good durability upon repeated switching between doped and dedoped states. A flexible supercapacitor was also fabricated with the PEDOP/Bi2S3 hybrid and it delivered a capacitance of 329 F g−1 (at 0.4 A g−1), thus indicating the promise the hybrid holds for realizing scalable, but lightweight high performance supercapacitors.

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