Bio-inspired gelatin/single-walled carbon nanotube nanocomposite for transient electrochemical energy storage: An approach towards eco-friendly and sustainable energy system

Wide-scale production of non-biodegradable e-waste from electrical appliances are causing great harm to the environment. The use of bio-polymer based nanomaterials may offer a promising approach for the fabrication of eco-friendly sustainable devices. In this work, gelatin/single walled carbon nanotube (Gel/SWCNT) nanocomposites were prepared by a simple and economic aqueous casting method. The effect of SWCNT on the structural, surface-morphological, electrical, and electrochemical properties of the nanocomposite was studied. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) showed an improved degree of interaction between the SWCNTs and Gel matrix. The surface wettability of the nanocomposites was found to be changed from hydrophilic to hydrophobic in nature due to the incorporation of SWCNTs into the Gel matrix. The incorporation of SWCNTs was also found to reduce the DC resistivity of the nanocomposite by 4 orders of magnitude. SWCNTs also increase the specific capacitance of the nanocomposite from 124 mF/g to 467 mF/g at a current density of 0.3 mA/g. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis revealed an increase of the pseudo-capacitance increased from 9.4 μF to 31 μF due to the incorporation of SWCNT. The Gel/SWCNT nanocomposite showed cyclic stability with capacitive retention of about 98% of its initial capacitance after completing 2000 charging/discharging cycles at a current density of 100 mA/g. The nanocomposite completely dissolves in water within 12 h, demonstrates it as a promising candidate for transient energy storage applications. The Gel/SWCNT nanocomposite may offer a new route for the synthesis of eco-friendly, biodegradable, and transient devices.