Solvent-Enhanced Transparent Stretchable Polymer Nanocomposite Electrode for Supercapacitors

Abstract

We demonstrate a transparent stretchable supercapacitor based on a nanocomposite electrode consisting of silver nanowires (AgNWs) and poly­(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly­(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) modified with ethylene glycol. The addition of ethylene glycol (EG) in the PEDOT:PSS solution can dramatically enhance the conductivity of the polymer film. Furthermore, the solvent treatment induces the reorganization of the polymer chains, leading to better distribution of PEDOT:PSS on the AgNW network. With the EG-enhanced AgNWs/PEDOT:PSS electrode, an 87% transmittance of the nanocomposite electrode can be achieved at a wavelength of 550 nm and a pseudo capacitance of 113 ± 18 F/g (areal capacitance = 2.83 ± 0.46 mF cm–2) can be achieved at a scan rate of 10 mV/s. When it was stretched with a tensile strain of 40%, the capacitance of the transparent supercapacitor even increased, owing to closer electrode contact. This work provides a facile way to produce highly transparent and stretchable electrodes using EG-enhanced nanocomposite for a stretchable portable power source of transparent electronics.

Flexible, Transparent and Highly Conductive Polymer Film Electrodes for All-Solid-State Transparent Supercapacitor Applications

“…The expansion of the polymer chains consequently results in a remarkably improved electrical performance. Since the solvent and salt ions in the salt solution can play a synergetic effect on altering the polymer conformation, the salt solution treatment turns out to facilitate greater enhancement in the electrical conductivity of PEDOT:PSS than the neat solvent treatment methods, which are commonly used elsewhere [22]. For use as the flexible and transparent supercapacitor electrodes, the optoelectronic performance of the PEDOT:PSS films in terms of the sheet resistance and transmittance were measured, as shown in Figure 2.…”

“…For example, Yang et al reported the synthesis of nickel oxide/nickel vanadate (Ni 3 V 2 O 8 ) and polyaniline (PANI) composites via in situ chemical bath deposition [21]. The as-fabricated electrodes exhibited a high transparency of 71.8%, a high specific capacitance of 2565.7 F/g at 5 mV/s and a wide potential window of 1.6 V. Lee et al developed composite electrodes consisting of poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and silver nanowires [22]. The electrodes delivered 87% transmittance and capacitance of 113 ± 18 F/g at 10 mV/s.…”

Conductive Polymers for Flexible and Stretchable Organic Optoelectronic Applications

“…Flexible and stretchable organic optoelectronics such as OSCs, − electronic skins, − OECTs, − OLEDs, , and supercapacitors − are considered as the next-generation devices for biosensors, energy conversion, and so on. The success of these devices is based on the manufacture of flexible and transparent electrodes/buffer layer for OSCs and OLEDs, flexible and stretchable interconnectors/electrodes for electronic skins, channels for OECTs, and electrodes for supercapacitors, etc.…”

“…Nevertheless, devices on rigid surfaces could not match with irregular surfaces or the products needed to be stretched. As a result, flexible, stretchable, wearable devices have recently attracted intense attention, leading to extensive research on OSCs, − electronic skins, − organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), − organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), , and supercapacitors. − Here, flexible devices provide robust performance under folding, bending, and twisting tests, while stretchable devices provide at least 10% tensile strain except for extremely high flexibility. , Several strategies to impart stretchability for various soft electronics have been developed, including intrinsically stretchable materials and configuration designs such as buckles, wavy patterns, meshed shapes, and kirigami . Among them, electrode materials with good optical transparency, high mechanical flexibility, and electrical conductivity are crucial to achieving these high-performance devices with excellent flexibility and stretchability.…”

Nano Carbon Doped Polyacrylamide Gel Electrolytes for High Performance Supercapacitors

“…While they have good mechanical properties and are very suited to flexible devices, the solid electrolytes typically show low ionic conductivity and overall performance. Gel polymer electrolytes (GE) are a great compromise between Molecules 2021, 26, 2631 2 of 12 the liquid and solid, have relatively good mechanical properties, are lightweight, can be packaged easily, and can have higher ionic conductivity than the solids [22][23][24][25][26].…”