Polyaniline-V2O5 nanocomposite for photocatalytic efficacy in organic dye degradation and as electrode materials for supercapacitor applications

An advanced hybrid Polyaniline-V${}_2$O${}_5$ (PSVO) nanocomposite with a unique structure was successfully synthesized via chemical in-situ oxidation polymerization. Small particles are distributed throughout the nanofibers framework, improving the charge transfer characteristics of PSVO, as shown by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The PSVO nanocomposite demonstrated exceptional photocatalytic efficacy under sunlight, effectively degrading a range of organic dyes: methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), malachite green (MG), and rhodamine B (RhB) in different water sources, including river, tap, and stagnant water, with degradation efficiencies of 92.51%, 95.18%, 90.61%, and 97.42%, respectively. The integration of V${}_2$O${}_5$ significantly enhanced redox activity and charge storage, elevating the material’s electrochemical performance. The optimized PSVO sample with 10% V${}_2$O${}_5$ content achieved an impressive specific capacitance of 1027.87 F g⁻¹ at a current density of 1 A g⁻¹ with energy density of 91.33 Wh/kg and power density of 400 W/kg. These attributes make the PSVO nanocomposite an outstanding candidate for applications in high-performance supercapacitors and efficient water purification.