Recombination Strategy for Processable Ambipolar Electroactive Polymers in Pseudocapacitors

Abstract

In order to circumvent the contradiction between processability and electrochemical performances, we report a recombination strategy in both unit and segment scales for processable ambipolar electroactive materials starting from parental moieties: classic ambipolar polymer (PEBE) and its soluble analogue (PPBP). On the basis of this strategy, two recombined polymers (PEB-P and PEBE-PBP) are successfully prepared via direct (hetero)­arylation copolymerization. Through systematical characterization of properties, both PEB-P and PEBE-PBP not only possess the solubility fostered by PPBP but also exhibit identical electrochemical and optical properties to PEBE, demonstrating the reliability of this recombination strategy. Moreover, film electrodes of these recombined polymers exhibit desirable pseudocapacitance, acceptable stability, and superior processability to PEBE, making them promising candidates for Type III supercapacitors and other multifunctional energy storage devices.

New Donor–Acceptor–Donor Conjugated Polymer with Twisted Donor–Acceptor Configuration for High-Capacitance Electrochromic Supercapacitor Application

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Ambipolar Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-Pendant Tetrachlorinated Perylene Diimide for Symmetric Supercapacitors

“…The optimal configuration for a polymer-based supercapacitor device would consist of two electrodes made from a single ambipolar polymer capable of stably storing both positive and negative charges, known as a type III device. , However, suitable ambipolar materials are rare, usually exhibiting relatively poor stability for negative charge storage. − Recent progress on donor–acceptor π-conjugated polymers has shown that it is possible to improve negative charge storage stability by introducing electron-withdrawing groups, but this results in a corresponding reduction in positive charge storage performance. − It is thus beneficial to isolate positive and negative charge storing units in order to maintain the individual performance of each. Qin et al synthesized a donor–node–acceptor polymer, consisting of a dicarbazole donor unit and a tetrachlorinated perylene diimide (PDI) acceptor unit .…”