High electroactivity of polyaniline in supercapacitors by using a hierarchically porous carbon monolith as a support

A high-performance polyaniline electrode was prepared by potentiostatic deposition of aniline on a hierarchically porous carbon monolith (HPCM), which was carbonized from the mesophase pitch. A capacitance value as high as 2200 F g(-1) (per weight of polyaniline) is obtained at a power density of 0.47 kW kg(-1) and an energy density of 300 W h kg(-1). This active material deposited on HPCM also has the advantageous of high stability. These properties can be essentially attributed to the backbone role of HPCM. The method also has the advantage of a topology that is favorable for kinetics at high power densities, thus, contributing to the increase of ionic conductivity and power density. There is also no need for a binder, which not only lowers the preparation costs but also offers advantages in terms of stability and performance.