The current impacts and future prospects of graphene derivatives in polymer-based supercapacitors

Abstract

For sustainability motives, the world must accelerate current work towards meeting the rising energy demands whilst reducing the current huge dependency on fossil energy resources. Fossil fuels contaminate the environment, cause health-related complications to humankind and are finite. Renewables are promising in countering these adversities. However, renewable energy resources have sporadic characteristics, thus, need effective energy storage systems for clean energy transition. One such energy storage system with the potential to grow towards large-scale commercialisation is the supercapacitor (SC). Current research foci in SCs include improved capacitance, lifespan, stability, energy and power densities through the development of effective and highly stable electrode materials. One typical and promising electrode material is the conducting polymer (CP). However, CPs still face some drawbacks; such as ion depletions, mechanical issues, operational stability and short-term stability; to develop further. Hence, compositing CPs with carbonaceous materials, namely graphene derivatives, is among the current suitable strategies to counter these setbacks. Henceforth, the current work reviews the impact of graphene derivatives as additives to CP-based SCs regarding tuneable band gap, nontoxicity, lightweight, remarkable flexibility, low costs emanating from abundant sources, facile synthesis methods and easy scalability. The review also provides recommendations for future directions to enhance the sustainability of both CPs and SCs. The discussed literature outlines that graphene derivative additives to polymers has phenomenal potential to achieve long-term stability and highly performing SCs through synergism. Graphical Abstract