Development of Commercially Feasible Cost Effective Supercapacitors Based on Conducting Polymers and Metal Ferrites

Abstract

With severe increase in pollution from fossil fuels and rapid depletion of fossil energy sources, newlinethere is a growing demand for development of new energy storage systems. To meet the future newlineenvironmental and societal needs, we need to develop more efficient electrical storage devices. newlineThe demand for a feasible and adequate energy storage device has induced a revived scientific newlineresearch towards designing capacitors based on nanotechnology. Supercapacitors (SCs) newlinecomprising of nanostructured electrode materials, act as an intermediate device between newlinecapacitors and batteries that combines the high power capabilities of the electrostatic capacitors newlineand high energy density of rechargeable batteries. newlineHowever, SC display significant challenges with regard to cost, processability, durability and newlineenvironmental effects. Ferrites has several benefits in terms of costs, magnetic separation, newlineelectromagnets, etc., while, on the other hand, metal doped ferrites exhibit excellent chemical newlinestability, magnetic as well as electro-magnetic properties and higher permeability. Meanwhile, newlineconducting polymers like polyaniline provides strength and functionality to the energy device. newlineNevertheless, even after their superior electroactivity and conductivity, they could not achieve newlinehigh energy and power density, which can probably be achieved by using a composite of ferrites newlineand conducting polymer. To validate the above, we have prepared metal ferrites, mixed metal newlineferrites nanoparticles, conducting polymer and their nanocomposites and assessed their newlineelectrochemical performance for use as electrode materials in symmetrical supercapacitor. The newlinemain goal of this thesis was to develop a low-cost supercapacitor based on conducting polymer newlineand metal ferrite nanoparticles with high cycle stability, moderate power and energy density and newlinehigh specific capacitance. newline