Polymers for energy accumulation systems
The investigation of energy accumulation systems has remained a promising strategy for many decades. Now, researchers from the IMC described a new, general, and robust approach to using Al-ions for the accumulation of energy in an organic polymer–polyaniline (PANI). A new study appeared in the journal Journal of Materials Chemistry C.
Scientists studied the synergistic effect of the stability of the PANI polymer and Al-containing electrolyte. „The electrochemical performance of PANI/Al(ClO4)3 was studied by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The PANI film revealed a reversible one reduction and one oxidation peak, which is explained by the organization of the polymer chains on one hand, and the application of Al(ClO4)3 as the electrolyte on the other hand. We have found that the PANI/Al(ClO4)3 system exhibits a significant improvement in electrochemical activity and stability (after 5000 cycles ~ 90% of the original performance is retained), and improved spectro-electrochemical performance: the optical contrast ratio is 6.25 and coloration efficiency is 102.7 cm2 C–1 at 633 nm,“ describes Dr. Elena Tomšik from Department of Conducting Polymers (IMC CAS).
This research project started in 2017 when researchers from the IMC began investigating the role of Hofmeister ions in the chemical synthesis of PANI. In the following years, they focused in depth on understanding the electrochemical performance of PANI under different conditions. To complete the study, scientists from the IMC cooperated with the group of Dr. Alexander Kromka from the Institute of Physics CAS.
