Solution-processed poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) nanocomposite paper electrodes for high-capacitance flexible supercapacitors

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Materials for energy and sustainability, 2016-01, Vol.4 (5), p.1714-1722
• Main Authors: Wang, Zhaohui, Tammela, Petter, Huo, Jinxing, Zhang, Peng, Strømme, Maria, Nyholm, Leif
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Capacitance; Devices; Electrodes; Engineering Science with specialization in Nanotechnology and Functional Materials; Flexibility; Nanostructure; Renewable energy; Supercapacitors; Teknisk fysik med inriktning mot nanoteknologi och funktionella material
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/c5ta10122k

Although the development of nanostructured poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) with large capacitance and high mechanical flexibility is crucial for the realization of high-performance supercapacitors, such electrodes are generally very challenging to manufacture rapidly and inexpensively. Herein, a straightforward, fast and versatile approach for the fabrication of mechanically robust, highly conductive and flexible nanostructured PEDOT paper is described. The composite material, which can be made within 30 minutes using solution based reactions, exhibits a large surface area (137 m 2 g −1 ) and low sheet resistance (1.4 Ω −1 ) as well as high active mass loading (7.3 mg cm −2 ). Symmetric PEDOT paper-based supercapacitors are shown to provide high specific electrode capacitances ( i.e. 90 F g −1 , 920 mF cm −2 , and 54 F cm −3 ) and excellent cycling stability (93% capacity retention after 15 000 cycles at 30 mA cm −2 ) in 1.0 M H 2 SO 4 . The electrochemical performance of the supercapacitors was also maintained at different bending angles demonstrating the flexibility of the devices. Given the widespread interest in PEDOT and its broad applicability, the present straightforward procedure for the fabrication of nanostructured PEDOT holds great promise for the realization of different flexible energy storage devices. Nanostructured flexible PEDOT paper can be constructed by straightforward chemical polymerization on nanocellulose building blocks, yielding a high surface area, low sheet resistance and outstanding capacitive performance.