Hydrothermally Synthesized PANI-Decorated CuMnO₂ Nanostructured Electrode: Powering Flexible Solid-State Supercapacitors for Wearable and Portable Electronics

Wearable and flexible electronics require compact, reliable power systems capable of delivering consistent energy for diverse applications. This study introduces a nanostructured PANI@CuMnO2 electrode material synthesized via mechanical grinding followed by hydrothermal treatment. The strategic integration of PANI into the CuMnO2 matrix enhances the material’s electrochemical performance, achieving a high areal-specific capacitance of 355.62 mF cm–2 at 1 mA cm–2 and an energy density of 17.78 μWh cm–2 at a power density of 108 μW cm–2 in a three-electrode system. Notably, the electrode demonstrates excellent cycling stability, retaining 94.82% of its capacitance after 5000 charge–discharge cycles. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further corroborate the superior charge transfer properties and structural integrity of the material. The fabricated symmetric flexible solid-state supercapacitor exhibits remarkable flexibility, sustaining approximately 84.3% of its initial capacity after 5000 cycles and maintaining consistent performance under mechanical bending and twisting. Remarkably, the device exhibits 47.66 mF cm–2 and energy density of 8 μWh cm–2. These findings highlight the potential of PANI@CuMnO2-based supercapacitors as a promising solution for energy storage in next-generation flexible and wearable electronics.