High-Performance n-Type Conducting Polymer-Based Supercapacitors with Enhanced Capacitance and Stability via Redox...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Conducting polymers are key pseudocapacitive materials for supercapacitors.
• N-type conducting polymers exhibit poor stability and narrow electrochemical windows.
• Poly(benzodifurandione) (PBFDO) is an n-type conducting polymer with potential for energy storage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the electrochemical performance of PBFDO-based supercapacitors.
• To address the stability and electrochemical window limitations of n-type conducting polymers.
• To investigate the use of hydroquinone (HQ) as a redox-active electrolyte additive.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized PBFDO-based supercapacitors.
• Incorporated hydroquinone (HQ) as an electrolyte additive at 20 mM concentration.
• Performed electrochemical characterization including specific capacitance, cycling stability, and energy density measurements at high power.

Main Results:

• Specific capacitance increased from 33 to ~60 F g^-1 with 20 mM HQ.
• Device retained over 93% capacity after 50,000 cycles.
• Achieved 5.6 Wh kg^-1 energy density at 50,000 W kg^-1 power density.
• Hydroquinone derivatives also improved performance, confirming strategy universality.

Conclusions:

• Hydroquinone additive significantly enhances PBFDO supercapacitor performance.
• HQ facilitates reversible doping/dedoping, improving ion diffusion and stability.
• The strategy offers a universal approach to boost all-organic energy storage devices.