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

Abstract

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 m² 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 H₂SO₄. 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.