Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Journal of Applied Electrochemistry https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-017-1120-z RESEARCH ARTICLE Functionalized seaweed-derived graphene/polyaniline nanocomposite as efcient energy storage electrode Rajeev Gupta 1,3  · Nilesh Vadodariya 2,3  · Ashesh Mahto 3,4  · Jai Prakash Chaudhary 2,3  · Dilip B. Parmar 1,3  · Divesh N. Srivastava 1,3  · Sanna Kotrappanavar Nataraj 4  · Ramavatar Meena 2,3 Received: 30 May 2017 / Accepted: 18 September 2017 © Springer Science+Business Media B.V., part of Springer Nature 2017 Abstract The present study demonstrates a synergistic efect of combining graphene, sourced from seaweed (Ulva fasciata) with polyaniline for energy storage applications via a simple aqueous synthetic route. In situ polymerization of aniline monomer resulted in unique polyaniline nanofber-coated seaweed-derived graphene nanocomposites (PANI:SDG). Easily scalable synthetic route produced nanocomposites with improved electrical conductivity (> 75 mScm −1 ) and thermal stability. Results of electrochemical studies on PANI–SDG nanocomposites as electrode material showed improved specifc capacitance (> 400 F g −1 ) with enhanced cyclic stability (1000 cycles). The unique cooperative efect between the PANI and SDG resulted in signifcantly improved charge storage properties in comparison to controlled PANI and graphene electrodes. The supercapacitor device prepared in this work exhibited high specifc capacitance and cyclic stability and could be utilized for potential applications in a variety of devices and wearable electronics. Graphical Abstract Keywords Seaweed biomass · Seaweed-derived graphene · PANI · Nanocomposites · Supercapacitor * Divesh N. Srivastava dnsrivastava@csmcri.res.in * Sanna Kotrappanavar Nataraj sk.nataraj@jainuniversity.ac.in; sknata@gmail.com * Ramavatar Meena rmeena@csmcri.res.in; ramavatarm6@gmail.com 1 Analytical Division & CIF, CSIR-Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute, G.B. Marg, Bhavnagar 364002, India 2 Natural Products and Green Chemistry, CSIR-Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute, G. B Marg, Bhavnagar 364002, India 3 AcSIR-Centr al Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute, G. B Marg, Bhavnagar 364002, India 4 Centre for Nano and Material Sciences, Jain University, Kanakapura, Ramanagaram, Bangalore 562 112, India