SYNTHESIS OF NOVEL CERIUM DOPED POLYANILINE MULTIWALLED CARBON NANOTUBES AND THEIR OPTICAL AND ELECTROCHEMICAL PROPERTIES FOR SUPERCAPACITOR APPLICATIONS

PANI/Ce(NO3)3/MWCNTs nanocomposites are synthesized via in situ oxidative polymerization of aniline monomer in HCl solution. The PANI/Ce(NO3)3 was homogeneously coated on the surface of MWCNTs which greatly improved the charge transfer reaction. The PANI/Ce(NO3)3/ MWCNTs nanocomposites exhibit better electrochemical performances than that of neat individual components. The maximum specific capacitance of 900 Fg?1 was obtained at a scan rate of 5 mVs?1 for PANI/5 wt% Ce(NO3)3 composite with 7 wt% MWCNT, compared to 210, 350, 564, and 740 Fg?1 for neat PANI, PANI/5 wt% Ce(NO3)3, PANI/5 wt% Ce(NO3)3/3 wt% MWCNT and PANI/5 wt% Ce(NO3)3/5 wt% MWCNT, respectively. The combination of electron donating PANI and cerium semiconductor enhanced both the electron mobility in the nanocomposites and photoluminescence behavior. The relatively PL was achieved with higher weight % of MWCNT as the excimer quenching by MWCNT was shielded a PANI coat. The resulting composite can use as promising electrode materials for high performance electrical energy storage devices.