TiO2 nanofibers with vapor phase polymerized (VPP) poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) served as the materials for the electrodes of a supercapacitor. The TiO2 fibers were synthesized through electrospinning and calcination before being characterized using Raman spectroscopy to identify the fibers in the rutile phase. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), a portion of pre-calcined TiO2 fibers, calcined TiO2 fibers and the TiO2/PEDOT composite fibers were characterized by their morphology and their average diameter calculated. With the composite fibers as the electrodes of the supercapacitor, cyclic voltammetry (CV), charge-discharge (CD) tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were conducted to determine the electrical properties of the supercapacitors. The TiO2 fibers were calcined at different temperatures and studied to see if the change in synthesis of the fibers affected the behavior of the supercapacitor. Overall there was an improvement in the electrochemical properties of the supercapacitor with the usage of the TiO2/PEDOT composite fibers when the VPP method is used versus an in situ polymerization method for PEDOT. With the TiO2 fibers calcined at 550C and PEDOT polymerized at 50C the best results for specific capacitance of 87.9F/g were obtained. In addition to a higher specific capacitance, testing also showed the ability for reversibility at a higher rate than found in the literature. Graphene is now also being infused into these composite fibers and preliminary testing is being done to see if the capacitance and stability will be increased further.

Vapor-phase polymerization of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)/TiO2 and PEDOT/TiO2/graphene composite fibers as electrode materials for supercapacitors

255th National Meeting (2018)

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