Investigating the synergistic effect of CuO and PANI-CuO composite for high-performance supercapacitor studies

Polyaniline (PANI), Copper oxide (CuO), and PANI–CuO composite were synthesized to evaluate their potential as high-performance supercapacitor materials. CuO nanoflowers were synthesized through thermal decomposition, while pure PANI and the PANI–CuO composite were synthesized via Oxidative polymerization. Structural and morphological analysis (FESEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, and BET) confirmed well-dispersed CuO within the PANI matrix and a larger effective surface area in the composite. Electrochemical properties were examined using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 0.5 M H₂SO₄. CuO exhibited a specific capacitance of 200 F/g, whereas PANI showed a specific capacitance of 600 F/g. Remarkably, the PANI–CuO composite achieved a specific capacitance of ∼1000 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g, with 88 % capacitance retention and a coulombic efficiency of about 93 % after 5000 cycles. These findings demonstrate that the PANI–CuO composite offers enhanced pseudocapacitance, faster charge transfer, and excellent cycling stability, underscoring its potential as a durable electrode material for next-generation energy storage devices.