Printed PEDOT:PSS Trilayer: Mechanism Evaluation and Application in Energy Storage

Abstract

Combining ink-jet printing and one of the most stable electroactive materials, PEDOT:PSS (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate)), is envisaged to pave the way for the mass production of soft electroactive materials. Despite its being a well-known electroactive material, widespread application of PEDOT:PSS also requires good understanding of its response. However, agreement on the interpretation of the material’s activities, notably regarding actuation, is not unanimous. Our goal in this work is to study the behavior of trilayers with PEDOT:PSS electrodes printed on either side of a semi-interpenetrated polymer network membrane in propylene carbonate solutions of three different electrolytes, and to compare their electroactive, actuation, and energy storage behavior. The balance of apparent faradaic and non-faradaic processes in each case is discussed. The results show that the primarily cation-dominated response of the trilayers in the three electrolytes is actually remarkably different, with some rather uncommon outcomes. The different balance of the apparent charging mechanisms makes it possible to clearly select one electrolyte for potential actuation and another for energy storage application scenarios.

Multifunctionality of Polypyrrole Polyethyleneoxide Composites: Concurrent Sensing, Actuation and Energy Storage

“…The small and high-charge-density Li + ion (ion radius 0.185 nm) has a hydration number of 4 [ 17 ], while Na + ions (van der Waals radius 0.227 nm) are surrounded by 5 water molecules [ 17 ]. The hydration shell of organic cations such as EDMI + (van der Waals radius 0.352 nm) is supposed to be weak due to the hydrophobic methyl and ethyl ligands [ 18 ], restricting solvent access to the charge. The TMA + ion (van der Waals radius 0.322 nm) also has high hydrophobicity [ 19 , 20 ] and poor charge accessibility, being exchanged as a single entity between the PPy network and the electrolyte.…”

Cation-Selective Actuator–Sensor Response of Microcrystalline Cellulose Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes of Different Electrolytes Using Propylene Carbonate Solvent

“…), and the solvation numbers in PC of the electrolytes EDMITF, LiTF, and TBATF. The solvation number of EDMI + is not reported in the literature, but recent research [47] revealed a weak rather than strong solvation in PC. In the case of Li + ions, former research showed that, by using SWCNT sheets and applying acetonitrile as a solvent, the ions moved in without solvation shells [43].…”

Inkjet Printing with (Semi)conductive Conjugated Polymers: A Review

“…Inkjet printing technology can be employed for the manufacturing of freeform electrochemical energy-storage devices. Inkjet-printed electrodes for flexible supercapacitors based on PEDOT:PSS have been produced [392][393][394]. The addition of carbon nanomaterials to PEDOT:PSS [395] or PANI [396,397] inks increases the conductivity and capacitance of the printed supercapacitors.…”