Sustainable batteries/supercapacitors: thin films based on conductive polymers as new electrode materials

• Grant number: 23/13923-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Program to Stimulate Scientific Vocations
• Start date: February 19, 2024
• End date: March 23, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Aldo Jose Gorgatti Zarbin
• Grantee: Mayra Luiza Gonçalves Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Setor de Ciências Exatas. Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR). Ministério da Educação (Brasil)

Abstract

The properties that emerge from the À-conjugated structure of conductive polymers (CPs) make them promising for applications in batteries/supercapacitors and smart windows, the latter arising from the electrochromic properties present in CPs such as polyaniline (PANI), polythiophene (PT), poly- 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT), among others. Recently, we reported a simple methodology for preparing a color palette based on the combination of PANI, PEDOT and PT through the liquid-liquid interfacial route developed in our research group, based on the deposition of different numbers of layers and/or different polymers in sequence, giving rise to distinct colors and electrochemical responses. Changing the color of films at different potentials makes it possible to build an electrochromic energy storage device, in which the simple difference in color indicates whether it is charged or discharged. The objective of this project is to optimize the deposition of conductive polymer films in order to obtain electrodes for application in possible electrochromic batteries. (AU)