ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

One-dimensional polyaniline nanoworms: binder-free electrodes for next-generation supercapacitors

Aruna Patil, Girish Kamble, Anita Tawade, Kirankumar Sharma, Jin Kim, and Dhanaji Dalavi

Department of Physics, Tal- Karad, Dist. Satara, Maharashtra, India

E-mail: dhanuphysics@gmail.com

Received: 3 June 2025  Accepted: 2 October 2025

Abstract:

Polyaniline (PANI) thin films were successfully synthesized via electrochemical deposition on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates using varying concentrations of aniline (0.1-0.5 M) to optimize their performance as supercapacitor electrodes. Structural characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the formation of PANI, exhibiting characteristic molecular features. Morphological analysis by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) revealed significant differences in surface texture with concentration variation. Among all samples, the film deposited at 0.4 M aniline concentration (designated P_0.4) exhibited the most favorable electrochemical behavior, delivering a high specific capacitance of 436.78 mF cm⁻² at a scan rate of 5 mV s⁻¹. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) further demonstrated a low equivalent series resistance (38 Ω) and charge transfer resistance (16 Ω), indicating efficient ion transport and electrical conductivity. These findings highlight the effectiveness of concentration tuning in enhancing the performance of PANI-based thin films, positioning them as promising binder-free electrode materials for high-performance supercapacitor applications.

Keywords: Thin film; Polyaniline; Electropolymerization; Nanoworm; Supercapacitor

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04429-2

Chemical Papers 80 (1) 799–808 (2026)