Preparation and properties of cellulose nanofiber-reduced graphene oxide/polyaniline composite aerogels as flexible electrodes

The cellulose nanofiber-reduced graphene oxide (CNF-rGO) composite hydrogel was prepared by ascorbic acid reduction of CNF-graphene oxide (GO) composite hydrogel which was obtained from CNF with high aspect ratio and GO with nanosheet. By freeze-drying method, CNF-rGO composite aerogel was obtained. By the in situ polymerization of aniline monomer, CNF-rGO/polyaniline (PANI) composite aerogels as flexible electrode materials was prepared. The effects of different dosage mass ratio of aniline, CNF and rGO on the morphology, structure and electrochemical properties of CNF-rGO/PANI aerogels electrode composites were studied. The results show that the CNF-rGO/PANI composite aerogels still have relatively close 3D network structure after in situ polymerization of aniline. Compared with rGO/PANI aerogel eletrode composites, the CNF-rGO/PANI aerogel eletrode composites have more excellent capacitance behavior. When the mass ratio of CNF and GO is 60:40 and the amount of PANI is 0.1 mol, the specific capacitance of the CNF-rGO/PANI aerogel electrode composites is 85.9 Fg^-1, and its electrochemical properties are hardly affected by bending degree. So, the CNF-rGO/PANI aerogel eletrode composites show good electrochemical performance and excellent flexibility.