Conducting Polymer-based Composites as Electrode Materials for Supercapacitor Applications

Abstract

Conducting polymers have drawn substantial interest due to their high theoretical capacitance, good electrochemical activity, eco-friendly nature, high flexibility, ease of synthesis and ability to store energy through intercalation/deintercalation of electrons via reversible redox reactions in advanced energy storage. Conducting polymers, primarily polyaniline, polypyrrole and polythiophene, are considered as they have high capacitance when compared to other polymers. With all the benefits conducting polymers hold, there are some disadvantages, such as internal resistance, high self-discharge rate, poor cyclic stability and disintegration of the polymeric network resulting in volume expansion. These issues can be addressed by the doping of hetero atoms, metals, and by preparing composites with different pseudo and EDLC-based materials. This chapter focuses on conducting polymer composites and their electrochemical studies using three/two electrode systems. The chapter also highlights their specific capacitance, retention capability, energy density and power densities.