Performance evaluation of poly (3-phenylthiophene) derivatives as active materials for electrochemical capacitors

摘要

Electroactive polymers that can undergo p- and n-doping can serve as active materials in high energy (power) density electrochemical capacitors (ECC) and offer potential advantages in terms of cost. A series of substituted 3-phenylthiophenederivatives were designed and evaluated as active materials forType III capacitors. The polymers were electrochemically deposited onto carbon paper electrodes from tetra-methylammonium trifluoromethanesulfonate (Me{sub}4NCF{sub}3SO{sub}3) /acetonitrile and / or tetra-ethylammonium tetra-fluoroborate(Et{sub}4NBF{sub}4) / acetonitrile electrolyte solutions and their morphologies and electrochemical performance were dependent on the nature and concentration of the growth and cycling electrolytes.Constant current multi-cycle tests were conducted on a prototype cell at high voltage (2.8 - 2.9 V). Energy and power densities of up to 20 Wh/kg and 5 kW/kg (based on active material) were achieved for PCNPT based devices.