In a groundbreaking advancement, chemists at UCLA have developed a novel type of PEDOT (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)) film that significantly enhances energy storage capabilities. This textured, fur-like PEDOT film boasts a surface area capable of storing nearly ten times more charge than conventional PEDOT, while also enduring close to 100,000 charging cycles.
Historically, PEDOT has been utilized in various electronic applications due to its excellent insulating properties. However, its potential for energy storage has remained underutilized due to limitations in electrical conductivity and surface area. The UCLA team tackled these challenges by employing a unique vapor-phase growth process to create vertical nanofibers, which dramatically increase the material's surface area.
According to Maher El-Kady, a materials scientist at UCLA, “The material's unique vertical growth allows us to create PEDOT electrodes that store far more energy than traditional PEDOT.” This innovation could pave the way for supercapacitors that meet growing energy storage demands, particularly as the world shifts towards renewable energy solutions.
Supercapacitors, unlike batteries, store energy through the accumulation of electrical charge on their surfaces, enabling rapid charging and discharging. This makes them ideal for applications such as regenerative braking in electric vehicles and high-power flashes in cameras. The new PEDOT material has demonstrated a conductivity 100 times greater than standard PEDOT products and an electrochemically active surface area four times larger, enhancing its performance significantly.
The researchers revealed that the charge storage capacity of the new material exceeds 4600 milliFarads per square centimeter, a remarkable increase compared to traditional PEDOT. Richard Kaner, a distinguished professor of chemistry at UCLA, stated, “The exceptional performance and durability of our electrodes shows great potential for graphene PEDOT's use in supercapacitors that can help our society meet our energy needs.”
This advancement not only promises to improve energy storage systems but also aligns with global efforts toward sustainability and renewable energy production.