Molecular tailoring to improve polypyrrole hydrogels’ stiffness and electrochemical energy storage capacity

doi:10.1007/s11705-019-1817-0

Front. Chem. Sci. Eng.

2019, Vol. 13

Issue (4) : 684-694 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-019-1817-0

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Molecular tailoring to improve polypyrrole hydrogels’ stiffness and electrochemical energy storage capacity

Evelyn Chalmers, Yi Li, Xuqing Liu(

)

School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK

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Abstract

This research looks at ways of tailoring and improving the stiffness of polypyrrole hydrogels for use as flexible supercapacitor electrodes. Molecules providing additional cross-linking between polypyrrole chains are added post-polymerisation but before gelation, and are found to increase gel stiffness by up to 600%, with the degree of change dependent on reactant type and proportion. It was also found that addition of phytic acid led to an increase in pseudocapacitive behaviour of the hydrogel, and thus a maximum specific capacitance of 217.07 F·g⁻¹ could be achieved. This is an increase of 140% compared to pristine polypyrrole hydrogels produced by this method.

Keywords supercapacitor polypyrrole hydrogel strengthening electrochemical

Corresponding Author(s): Xuqing Liu

Just Accepted Date: 18 April 2019 Online First Date: 26 June 2019 Issue Date: 04 December 2019

Cite this article:

Evelyn Chalmers,Yi Li,Xuqing Liu. Molecular tailoring to improve polypyrrole hydrogels’ stiffness and electrochemical energy storage capacity[J]. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng., 2019, 13(4): 684-694.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/10.1007/s11705-019-1817-0
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/Y2019/V13/I4/684

Fig.1 SEM images taken of polypyrrole hydrogels made with a 1:1 molar ratio of pyrrole:Fe(NO₃)₃. (A) with 1 mmol·L⁻¹ Fe(NO₃)₃ added, (B) with 1 mmol·L⁻¹ phytic acid added, (C) with 1 mmol·L⁻¹ KOH added, (D) with 1 mmol·L⁻¹ NaHCO₃ added

Fig.2 SEM images taken of polypyrrole hydrogels made with a 1:1 molar ratio of pyrrole:Fe₂(SO₄)₃. (A) with 1 mol·L⁻¹ Fe₂(SO₄)₃ added, (B) with 1 mol·L⁻¹ phytic acid added

Fig.3 FTIR spectra of polypyrrole hydrogels. (a) with Fe(NO₃)₃ added, (b) with phytic acid added to hydrogels made with Fe(NO₃)₃, (c) with NaHCO₃ added to hydrogels made with Fe(NO₃)₃, (d) with KOH added to hydrogels made with Fe(NO₃)_3, (e) with Fe₂(SO₄)₃ added, (f) with phytic acid added to hydrogels made with Fe₂(SO₄)₃

Fig.4 A representative plot showing the variation of measured current across a sample with an applied stepped voltage (in increments of 0.1 V every 5 s)

Fig.5 A plot of the DC conductivity of gels made initially with a 1:1 molar ratio of pyrrole:Fe(NO₃)₃ with respect to applied voltage and molecular addition. Inset: table detailing the conductivities of each gel

Fig.6 A plot of the DC conductivity of gels made initially with a 1:1 molar ratio of pyrrole:Fe₂(SO₄)₃ with respect to applied voltage and molecular addition. Inset: table detailing the conductivities of each gel

Fig.7 Cyclic voltammograms showing the hysteretic response of polypyrrole hydrogels, made initially with Fe(NO₃)₃, with Fe(NO₃)₃ and phytic acid added. Scan rate 10 mV·s^?¹

Fig.8 Cyclic voltammograms showing the hysteretic response of polypyrrole hydrogels, made initially with Fe(NO₃)₃, with tannic acid, P106, and KOH added. Scan rate 10 mV·s^?¹

Fig.9 Cyclic voltammograms showing the hysteretic response of polypyrrole hydrogels made initially with Fe₂(SO₄)₃. Scan rate 10 mV·s^?¹

Fig.10 Bar chart comparing the storage and loss moduli of polypyrrole hydrogels. (a) with 1 mmol·L⁻¹ Fe(NO₃)₃ added to gels initially made with 1:1 pyrrole: Fe(NO₃)₃; (b) with 1 mmol·L⁻¹ phytic acid added to these hydrogels; (c) with 2 mmol·L⁻¹ phytic acid added to these hydrogels; (d) with 1 mmol·L⁻¹ KOH added to these hydrogels; (e) with 1 mmol·L⁻¹ NaHCO₃ added to these hydrogels; (f) with 1 mmol·L⁻¹ Fe₂(SO₄)₃ added to gels initially made with 1:1 pyrrole: Fe₂(SO₄)₃; (g) with 1 mmol·L⁻¹ phytic acid added to these hydrogels; (h) with 2 mmol·L⁻¹ phytic acid added to these hydrogels

Fig.11 Plots of the storage (G') and loss (G'') moduli with increasing applied rotational frequency of polypyrrole hydrogels initially made with 1:1 molar ratio of pyrrole:Fe₂(SO₄)₃

Fig.12 Plots of the storage (G') and loss (G'') moduli with increasing applied rotational frequency of polypyrrole hydrogels initially made with 1:1 molar ratio of pyrrole:Fe₂(SO₄)₃

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