Screen-Printable and Flexible RuO2 Nanoparticle-Decorated PEDOT:PSS/Graphene Nanocomposite with Enhanced Electrical and Electrochemical Performances for High-Capacity Supercapacitor.

UNLABELLED

This work describes a ternary screen-printed electrode system, composed of aqueous poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid) (

PEDOT

PSS), graphene, and hydrous ruthenium(IV) oxide (RuO2) nanoparticles for use in high-performance electrochemical capacitors. As a polymeric binder, PSS allows stable dispersion of graphene and hydrous RuO2 nanoparticles (NPs) in an aqueous

PEDOT

PSS system through electrostatic stabilization, ensuring better utilization of the three components. Additional PSS molecules were added to optimize the solution viscosity to obtain screen-printed electrodes. The effects of graphene and hydrous RuO2 NPs on the electrical and electrochemical properties of

PEDOT

PSS were systematically investigated. The graphene sheets greatly enhanced the charge-transport properties, such as the doping level and conjugation length, through strong π-π stacking interactions with the PEDOT structure. The hydrous RuO2 NPs anchored to the

PEDOT

PSS/graphene surfaces facilitated redox reactions with the surrounding electrolyte, and significantly enhanced the specific capacitance of the electrode materials. The resulting RuO2/PEDOT:PSS/graphene electrode with a thickness of ∼5 μm exhibited high conductivity (1570 S cm(-1)), a large specific capacitance (820 F g(-1)), and good cycling stability (81.5% after 1000 cycles).