Conjugated Polyelectrolytes: Underexplored Materials for Pseudocapacitive Energy Storage.

Glenn Quek, Brian Roehrich, Yude Su, Lior Sepunaru, Guillermo C Bazan

Journal: Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) 2022;34(22):e2104206

PMID: 34626021

Abstract

Conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) are characterized by an electronically delocalized backbone bearing ionic functionalities. These features lead to properties relevant for use in energy-storing pseudocapacitor devices, including ionic conductivity, water processability, gel-formation, and formation of polaronic species stabilized by electrostatic interactions. In this Perspective, the basis for evaluating the figures of merit for pseudocapacitors is provided, together with the techniques used for their evaluation. The general utility and challenges encountered with neutral conjugated polymers are then discussed. Finally, recent advances on the use of CPEs in pseudocapacitor devices are reviewed. The article is concluded by discussing how their miscibility in aqueous media permits the incorporation of CPEs in living materials that are capable of switching function from extraction of energy from bacterial metabolic pathways to pseudocapacitor energy storage.

Address: Departments of Chemistry and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119077, Singapore.; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, Building 232, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA.; Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China.

DOI: 10.1002/adma.202104206

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https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202104206

MeSH Terms: Bacteria, Electric Conductivity, Polyelectrolytes, Polymers, Water