Tuning electrical properties of polythiophene/nickel nanocomposites via fabrication

Polythiophene/nickel nanocomposites were synthesized by the electrochemical oxidative polymerization of thiophene in the presence of nickel nanoparticles. The nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. It was found that both PTh and PTh/Ni nanocomposites show granular structures with grains that agglomerate. The increasing of the Ni content results in a decreasing in size and an increasing in density of insular PTh/Ni agglomerations. All composite samples present smaller grains and agglomerations as compared to pure PTh. As the Ni content increases both R-a and RMS are slightly increasing. Surface area was also estimated and the results showed a slightly increase of active surface area. Their electrochemical properties were further evaluated utilizing cydic voltammetry. As-grown nanocomposites of PTh/nickel with the highest content of nickel exhibited enhanced electrochemical activity, the highest specific capacitance of 3000 F g(-1) and the fastest discharging process of 200 s. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.