Conducting Polymer-Based Flexible Supercapacitors

Abstract

Supercapacitors (SCs), typically referred to as ultracapacitors or electrochemical capacitors, have demonstrated potential as the most promising candidate for energy storage devices to meet the demands for mankind's sustainable progress owing to their improved properties such as superior long cycle stability, power density, and low-cost processing. In recent years, conducting polymers (CPs) have been researched for supercapacitor applications as they combine the interesting properties of conventional polymers and the unique electronic properties of metals or semiconductors. This chapter seeks to introduce several conducting polymers such as polythiophene (PTh), polypyrrole (PPy), and polyaniline (PANI) as well as their applications in the area of supercapacitors. The various structural properties (from bulk to nanostructure) of conducting polymers and their performance as electrode components for supercapacitors have been discussed. Besides, composite-conducting polymers that contain different nanomaterials, such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, paramagnetic metal ions, and other carbon-based materials from both natural and synthetic polymers and their applications for supercapacitors are discussed.