Controlled Synthesis and Energy Applications of One‐Dimensional Conducting Polymer Nanostructures: An Overview

Abstract

The past decade has witnessed increasing attention in the synthesis, properties, and applications of one-dimensional (1D) conducting polymer nanostructures. This overview first summarizes the synthetic strategies for various 1D nanostructures of conjugated polypyrrole (PPy), polyaniline (PANI), polythiophene (PTh), poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV) and derivatives thereof. By using template-directed or template-free methods, nanoscale rods, wires/ fibers, belts/ribbons, tubes, arrays, or composites have been successfully synthesized. With their unique structures and advantageous characteristics (e.g., high conductivity, high carrier mobility, good electrochemical activity, large specific surface area, short and direct path for charge/ion transportation, good mechanical properties), 1D conducting polymer nanostructures are demonstrated to be very useful for energy applications. Next, their applications in solar cells, fuel cells, rechargeable lithium batteries, and electrochemical supercapacitors are highlighted, with a strong emphasis on recent literature examples. Finally, this review ends with a summary and some perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in this emerging area of research.

Nanostructured conductive polymers for advanced energy storage

“…3 To date, several strategies have been developed to synthesize 1D conductive polymer nanostructures, as referenced in recent review articles by Shi et al 2 In general, the controlled synthetic strategies could be classified into two main categories: template-based methods (Fig. 2a) 11 and template-free methods mainly including self-assembly and electrospinning (Fig.…”

“…In contrast, the template-free methods using self-assembly or electrospinning are proved to be effective alternatives to prepare 1D conductive polymer nanostructures. 3 The self-assembly method is induced by non-covalent forces between polymer chains, such as p-p stacking, dipole-dipole, hydrophobic, van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic and ion-dipole interactions. PANI, PPy, and PEDOT have been successfully self-assembled to nanowires and nanotubes by a dopant induced micelle route.…”

“…The nanofibers are produced as the solvent is evaporated. More detailed information is presented in the review by Zheng et al 3 …”

Biomimetic Conducting Polymers: Synthesis, Materials, Properties, Functions, and Devices

“…The reverse variation of the magnitudes of the above-mentioned electrochemical properties under control of the reverse reaction envisages the development of new biomimetic (electrochemical) devices and products: artificial muscles, electrochromic windows, 112,113 polymeric batteries, 114,115 and/or supercapacitors, 116,117 smart drug delivery devices, 118,119 and nervous interfaces 81 or smart membranes. 119,120 The fact that different properties change simultaneously driven by the same reaction (current) envisages the development of a unexpected world of new soft devices each including different tools actuating simultaneously: artificial muscles changing its color, storing a fraction of the charge (battery), keeping structural memory and sensing the working conditions during actuation.…”

“…Considering the availability in the market of electroactive carbon materials, carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, graphenes, porphirines, ftalocianines, or oxides exchanging anions or cations during charge/discharge, a plethora of different batteries with different characteristics are being designed where at least one of the electrodes is a conducting polymer. [114][115][116][117] The availability of thin films of ionic conducting polymeric membranes allows the construction of both, hybrid batteries (ELECTRODE/membrane/CP), where the material of the electrode is non-polymeric (metal, alloy, oxide, intercalation compound, etc.) or all polymeric batteries (CP/membrane/CP).…”