Cryopolymerization enables anisotropic polyaniline hybrid hydrogels with superelasticity and highly deformation-tolerant electrochemical energy storage

• Authors: Le Li, Donghua University; Yu Zhang, Emory University; Hengyi Lu, Donghua University; Yufeng Wang, Donghua University; Jingsan Xu, Queensland University of Technology; Jixin Zhu, Northwestern Polytechnical University; Chao Zhang, Donghua University; Tianxi Liu, Donghua University
• Journal Title: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
• Volume: Volume 11, Number 1
• Publisher: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP | 2020-01-07, Pages 62-62
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-13959-9
• Subjects: Engineering, Biomedical; Engineering, Mechanical
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Multidisciplinary Sciences; Science & Technology - Other Topics; CONDUCTING POLYMER HYDROGEL; REDUCED GRAPHENE OXIDE; HIGH-PERFORMANCE; SUPRAMOLECULAR HYDROGELS; SUPERCAPACITORS; NANOCOMPOSITES; COMPOSITE; PLATFORM; GELS

Abstract

The development of energy storage devices that can endure large and complex deformations is central to emerging wearable electronics. Hydrogels made from conducting polymers give rise to a promising integration of high conductivity and versatility in processing. However, the emergence of conducting polymer hydrogels with a desirable network structure cannot be readily achieved using conventional polymerization methods. Here we present a cryopolymerization strategy for preparing an intrinsically stretchable, compressible and bendable anisotropic polyvinyl alcohol/polyaniline hydrogel with a complete recovery of 100% stretching strain, 50% compressing strain and fully bending. Due to its high mechanical strength, superelastic properties and bi-continuous phase structure, the as-obtained anisotropic polyvinyl alcohol/polyaniline hydrogel can work as a stretching/compressing/bending electrode, maintaining its stable output under complex deformations for an all-solid-state supercapacitor. In particular, it achieves an extremely high energy density of 27.5 W h kg−1, which is among that of state-of-the-art stretchable supercapacitors.