Physical, Chemical, and Electrochemical Properties of Redox-Responsive Polybenzopyrrole as Electrode Material for Faradaic Energy Storage

• Published in: Polymers Vol. 13; no. 17; p. 2883
• Main Authors: Begum, Bushra, Bilal, Salma, Shah, Anwar ul Haq Ali, Röse, Philipp
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 27-08-2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Chemical synthesis; Chemicals; Composite materials; Conducting polymers; conductive polymers; Electrochemical analysis; Electrode materials; Electrodes; Energy conversion; Energy storage; Flux density; Fourier transforms; Metal oxides; Morphology; Nitrogen; Optimization; Polyanilines; polybenzopyrrole; polymer electrode material; Polymerization; Polymers; Polypyrroles; Spectrum analysis; Thermal stability; X-rays; United States > US
• ISSN: 2073-4360; 2073-4360
• DOI: 10.3390/polym13172883

Polybenzopyrrole (Pbp) is an emerging candidate for electrochemical energy conversion and storage. There is a need to develop synthesis strategies for this class of polymers that can help improve its overall properties and make it as suitable for energy storage applications as other well-studied polymers in this substance class, such as polyaniline and polypyrrole. In this study, by synthesizing Pbp in surfactant-supported acidic medium, we were able to show that the physicochemical and electrochemical properties of Pbp-based electrodes are strongly influenced by the respective polymerization conditions. Through appropriate optimization of various reaction parameters, a significant enhancement of the thermal stability (up to 549.9 °C) and the electrochemical properties could be achieved. A maximum specific capacitance of 166.0 ± 2.0 F g−1 with an excellent cycle stability of 87% after 5000 cycles at a current density of 1 A g−1 was achieved. In addition, a particularly high-power density of 2.75 kW kg−1 was obtained for this polybenzopyrrole, having a gravimetric energy density of 17 Wh kg−1. The results show that polybenzopyrroles are suitable candidates to compete with other conducting polymers as electrode materials for next-generation Faradaic supercapacitors. In addition, the results of the current study can also be easily applied to other systems and used for adaptations or new syntheses of advanced hybrid/composite Pbp-based electrode materials.