Synthesis of polyaniline/carbon black hybrid hollow microspheres by layer-by-layer assembly used as electrode materials for supercapacitors

Graphical abstract: The polyaniline/carbon black hybrid hollow microspheres with a external diameter about 3.0 μm were prepared via layer-by-layer assembly technique, and the electrochemical tests showed that polyaniline/carbon black hybrid hollow microspheres would be a potential candidates of electrode materials for supercapacitors with high specific capacitance. Highlights: ► The PAn/CB hybrid hollow microspheres were prepared via LBL technique. ► The specific capacitance increased with the increase in the adsorption of PAn and CB. ► The hollow structure and synergistic effect of shell enhance the specific capacitance. ► The PAn/CB hollow microsphere is a candidate of electrode material for supercapacitor. -- Abstract: The polyaniline (PAn)/carbon black (CB) hybrid hollow microspheres have been prepared by the layer-by-layer assembly technique alternately adsorbing of PAn and CB onto the polystyrene sulfonate microsphere templates after etching the templates by dialysis. The hollow structure of the obtained hybrid hollow microspheres was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, which indicated that the external diameter of the hollow microspheres was about 3.0 μm. When the hybrid hollow microsphere were used as the electrode material for supercapacitors, the results showed that the specific capacitance increased with the increase in the adsorption numbers of PAn and CB, which was as high as 532 F g−1 at a charge–discharge current density of 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M H2SO4 electrolyte after alternately adsorbing of PAn and CB six times