One-pot synthesis of graphene/SnO2/PEDOT ternary electrode material for supercapacitors

•Graphene/SnO2/PEDOT composites were obtained via one-pot synthesis method.•No obvious capacitance loss was found for the composite at 1 A g−1 after 5000 cycles in 1 M H2SO4.•The composites present the enhanced capacitance and energy density in both acidic and neutral electrolytes.

A ternary electrode material, based on graphene, tin oxide (SnO2) and poly(3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene) (PEDOT) has been obtained via one–pot synthesis for supercapacitors. The resulting composite graphene/SnO2/PEDOT (GE/SnO2/PEDOT) shows excellent electrochemical stability in acidic electrolyte, and good electrochemical performance with enhanced capacitance and energy density in both acidic and neutral electrolytes, compared to their binary composites. A maximum specific capacitance of 184 F g−1 in 1 M H2SO4 and 180 F g−1 in 1 M Na2SO4 respectively was obtained. Its energy density reaches 22 Wh Kg−1 at a power density of 238.3 W kg−1, and 17.1 Wh kg−1 at a high power density of 5803.3 W kg−1 in H2SO4. While in Na2SO4, the energy density achieves 23.4 Wh Kg−1 at a power density of 253 W kg−1 and 10.2 Wh Kg−1 at power density of 3684 W kg−1, respectively. The specific capacitance can still be retained about 100% and 70% at 1 A g−1 after 5000 cycles in 1 M H2SO4 and Na2SO4, respectively. The improved electrochemical property of GE/SnO2/PEDOT as electrode materials is mainly ascribed to the well-designed ternary nanostructure of the functional components with enhanced synergistic effects.

Graphical abstractGraphene/SnO2/PEDOT was obtained via one-pot synthesis method under a mild condition. The composite presents excellent electrochemical stability with no capacitance loss after 5000 cycles in 1 M H2SO4 at 1 A g−1. It also shows enhanced specific capacitance and energy density in both acidic and neutral electrolytes, due to the well-designed ternary nanostructure of the functional components with enhanced synergistic effects.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide