Polyaniline-MnO2 composites prepared in-situ during oxidative polymerization of aniline for supercapacitor applications

Polyaniline-manganese dioxide (PAni-MnO2) composites of varying compositions were prepared by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline monomer in aqueous acidic medium in the presence of different amounts of MnO2 formed in situ by the reaction of MnSO4 with KMnO4. PAni was also synthesized from aniline in acidic solution using ammonium peroxydisulfate as an oxidant for use as a reference material. PAni and PAni-MnO2 composites were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). FT-IR spectra revealed the formation of PAni and PAni-MnO2 composites. SEM images showed different morphologies of PAni and PAni-MnO2 composites and spherical MnO2 particles were distributed in the PAni matrix. Modified graphite electrode was prepared with PAni and PAni-MnO2 composites using solvent…