Viswanathan, A.Nityananda Shetty, A.N.2026-02-042024Materials Science and Engineering: B, 2024, 303, , pp. -9215107https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mseb.2024.117322https://idr.nitk.ac.in/handle/123456789/21152The green process of energy storage by utilizing the by-product obtained after the synthesis of PANI54.69 %: ZnO7.81 %: VO<inf>2</inf>37.50 % (PZnV) nanocomposite by insitu single step method, as its electrolyte is demonstrated herein. This green approach yields 23 % improvement in the energy storage compared to that in the presence of 1 M H<inf>2</inf>SO<inf>4</inf>. The enhanced energy storage obtained for PZnV nanocomposite in the presence of acidified by-product are a specific capacitance (C<inf>s</inf>) of 177.3 F g−1, a specific capacity (Q) of 212.7 C g−1, an energy density (E) of 35.46 W h kg−1 (comparable with E of lead acid batteries), and a power density (P) of 1.632 kW kg−1 at 1 A g−1. The PZnV exhibited an unique feature of increase in energy storage with increase in No. of CV cycles in the presence of 1 M H<inf>2</inf>SO<inf>4,</inf> and the maximum energy storage was achieved after 12,312 cycles with a C<inf>s</inf> of 440.5 F g−1, a Q of 528.6 C g−1, an E of 88.10 W h kg−1 (comparable with E of Li-ion batteries), and a P of 2.154 kW kg−1. A good cyclic stability up to 16,812 cycles was achieved at 0.4 V s−1. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.ElectrolytesEnergy storageII-VI semiconductorsLead acid batteriesLithium-ion batteriesNanocompositesAcidified supernatant liquidBy-product electrolyteGreen processGreen supercapacitanceNano-porousPANISingle-step methodSpecific capacitanceSupernatant liquidsTernary nanocompositesZinc oxide