Printable Gel Polymer Electrolytes for Solid-State Printed Supercapacitors.

Myeong-Lok Seol,Ellie Sadatian,Inho Nam,M Meyyappan,Nabanita Dutta,Jin-Woo Han

doi:10.3390/ma14020316

Myeong-Lok Seol, Ellie Sadatian + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14020316

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Abstract

Supercapacitors prepared by printing allow a simple manufacturing process, easy customization, high material efficiency and wide substrate compatibility. While printable active layers have been widely studied, printable electrolytes have not been thoroughly investigated despite their importance. A printable electrolyte should not only have high ionic conductivity, but also proper viscosity, small particle size and chemical stability. Here, gel-polymer electrolytes (GPE) that are compatible with printing were developed and their electrochemical performance was analyzed. Five GPE formulations based on various polymer-conductive substance combinations were investigated. Among them, GPE made of polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) polymer matrix and LiClO4 conductive substance exhibited the best electrochemical performance, with a gravimetric capacitance of 176.4 F/g and areal capacitance of 152.7 mF/cm2 at a potential scan rate of 10 mV/s. The in-depth study of the in-plane solid-state supercapacitors based on various printed GPEs suggests that printable electrolytes provide desirable attributes for high-performance printed energy devices such as supercapacitors, batteries, fuel cells and dye-sensitized solar cells.

Highlights

Supercapacitors are energy storage devices based on the electrical double layer formation or surface Faradaic reaction of nanomaterials
Electrolyte is an essential supercapacitor component that creates the electrical double layer of an EDLC or activates the Faradaic reaction of a pseudocapacitor [1]. Depending on their physical states, electrolytes are classified into liquid electrolytes, solid electrolytes and gel-polymer electrolytes (GPEs)
GPE possesses the best combination of the high ionic conductivity of a liquid electrolyte and good operation safety of a solid electrolyte [2]

Summary

Introduction

Supercapacitors are energy storage devices based on the electrical double layer formation (electrical double layer capacitor, EDLC) or surface Faradaic reaction of nanomaterials (pseudocapacitor). They are attractive where fast and stable energy supply and uptake is needed due to their high power density, electrical durability and operation stability compared to batteries. Electrolyte is an essential supercapacitor component that creates the electrical double layer of an EDLC or activates the Faradaic reaction of a pseudocapacitor [1] Depending on their physical states, electrolytes are classified into liquid electrolytes, solid electrolytes and gel-polymer electrolytes (GPEs). GPE possesses the best combination of the high ionic conductivity of a liquid electrolyte and good operation safety of a solid electrolyte [2]

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