Efficient Design for a High-Energy and High-Power Capability Hybrid Electric Power Device with Enhanced Electrochemical Interfaces

Fabrication of novel electrode architectures with tailored electrochemical interfaces (EI) is an effective strategy for enhancing charge and mass transport processes within electrochemical devices. Here, we design and fabricate a well-hybrid electrode based on the coupling of polyaniline (PANI) nanowires and Pt-based electrocatalysts to manufacture a hybrid electric power device (HEPD) combining the advantages of supercapacitors and fuel cells. Because of the boosted charge transfer between PANI nanowires and Pt-based materials via enhanced EIs, the HEPD assembled with hybrid electrodes shows remarkable performance with a peak power density of 222 mW cm–2, a specific power of 3810 W kg–1, and a specific energy of 2100 Wh kg–1, normalized to the mass of membrane electrode assemblies. The in situ Raman spectra and extended electrochemical studies demonstrate the intrinsic mechanism of charge transfer processes within hybrid electrodes, shedding light on the alternative progress of electrochemical energy conversion systems and storage devices.