Widening of the electroactivity potential range by composite formation – capacitive properties of TiO₂/BiVO₄/PEDOT:PSS electrodes in contact with an aqueous electrolyte

Composites based on the titania nanotubes were tested in aqueous electrolyte as a potential electrode material for energy storage devices. The nanotubular morphology of TiO₂was obtained by Ti anodization. TiO₂nanotubes were covered by a thin layer of bismuth vanadate using pulsed laser deposition. The formation of the TiO₂/BiVO₄junction leads to enhancement of pseudocapacitance in the cathodic potential range. The third component, the conjugated polymer PEDOT:PSS, was electrodeposited from an electrolyte containing the monomer EDOT and NaPSS as a source of counter ions. Each stage of modification and deposition affected the overall capacitance and allowed for an expansion of the potential range of electroactivity. Multiple charge/discharge cycles were performed to characterize the electrochemical stability of the inorganic–organic hybrid electrode. Capacitance values higher than 10 mF·cm⁻²were maintained even after 10000 galvanostatic cycles (i_c= i_a= 0.5 mA·cm⁻²).