The sulfonated graphene supported polyaniline composites (sGNS/PANI) with different hierarchical structures were synthesized successfully via an interfacial polymerization method using sGNS as the substrate

and the influence of oxidant type on chemical composition

morphological structure and supercapacitive performance of the composites was investigated systematically.The results showed when ammonium persulfate (APS) was used as the oxidant the PANI had the highest yield and degree of oxidation.The hierarchical composite of sGNS-supported vertically aligned PANI nanorod arrays was formed

and the PANI nanorod arrays possessed higher degree of conjugation and crystallinity

thus the composite exhibited high specific capacitance (497 F g-1)

excellent rate capability and cycling stability (5.7% capacitance loss after 2000 cycles).As oxidant was FeCl3

the PANI had a very low productivity

and the PANI was coated onto the surface of sGNS and formed a thin film.And the composite possessed the lowest specific capacitance (228.5 F g-1)

but charge-discharge cycle performance was rather good (87.4% retention rate of capacitance after 2000 cycles).When KMnO4 was used

the PANI with agglomerated particles randomly accumulated on the surface of sGNS

and the PANI displayed amorphous structure.The composite showed a relatively high specific capacitance of 419.6 F g-1

but the rate capability and cycling stability (19.9% capacitance loss after 2000 cycles) were poor.