Benzene-1,2,4,5-Tetracarboxylic Acid and Graphene Oxide-Modified Polyaniline Composite for Energy Storage Applications

Abstract The development of advanced electrode materials with high specific energy and robust cycling stability is critical for next-generation energy storage systems, including hybrid electric vehicles, solar energy harvesting, and grid-scale energy management. This work reports the in-situ synthesis of a ternary nanocomposite comprising polyaniline (PANI), benzene-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylic acid (BTCA), and graphene oxide (GO), engineered to enhance supercapacitive performance. BTCA serves both as a dopant and structure-directing agent, facilitating the formation of uniform PANI nanorods and optimized at molar ratios of BTCA:aniline (1:4) and aniline:ammonium persulfate (1:1). Morphological analysis confirms homogeneous GO distribution, while selected-area electron diffraction reveals polycrystalline features. The composite exhibits excellent thermal stability (91% weight retention at 800 °C) and a BET surface area of 36.53 m²/g with type IV isotherm characteristics. Enhanced π-π stacking reduces chain disorder, improving conjugation length and charge transport. Electrochemical studies demonstrate dominant capacitive behavior, achieving a specific capacitance of 274.8 F/g, energy density of 38.17 Wh/kg, and power density of ~1000 W/kg. Long-term cycling performance confirms 88% and 98% retention after 10,000 GCD and CV cycles respectively (two-electrode). Despite minor ohmic losses, the BTCA/PANI/GO composite in a device configuration while charged for approximately 40 seconds can glow a red LED for more than 90 seconds, offering a promising platform for high-performance supercapacitor electrodes with superior thermal resilience and electrochemical durability.