(521a) Invited Talk: Hybrid Electrodes for Electrochemical Energy Storage

Hybrid electrodes, which contain both electroactive polymers and inorganic materials, are promising for electrochemical energy storage. The electroactive polymer can bring both charge storage and conductivity to an otherwise insulating inorganic material. Further, the two components may synergistically perform better than either component alone. The overall challenge is to balance electrochemical performance (and in some cases mechanical properties) with composition and processing.

In this talk, several hybrid electrodes are presented, including polyaniline-graphene, polyaniline-V₂O₅, and poly(3-hexylthiophene)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (P3HT-b-PEO)-V₂O₅ electrodes. Each are evaluated as cathodes in non-aqueous batteries. In the first case study, polyaniliine-graphene oxide electrodes are assembled via water-based dip and spray layer-by-layer assembly, followed by electrochemcial reduction of graphene oxide to graphene. In the second case study, polyaniline and V₂O₅ is assembled into layer-by-layer cathodes using layer-by-layer assembly. In the third case study, an electron- and ion-conducting block copolymer (P3HT-b-PEO) is combined with insulating V₂O₅ using a water-based micellization process, resulting in a flexible cathode. The basics of how polymers function in each of these hybrid electrodes will be discussed as well. The future of electroactive polymers in hybrid electrodes is promising because the offer conductivity, eletrochemical activity, and flexibility.