Conducting Polymers and Their Composites: A Pathway to High-performance Supercapacitors

Among the various electrochemical energy storage systems, supercapacitors (SCs) having advantages of very high-power density and cycle life compared with commercial lithium-ion batteries are researched extensively. In spite of these advantages, the limited energy-density of state-of-art SCs compelled researchers to develop novel electrode materials. In this pursuit, because of their excellent specific capacity, dual conduction (ionic and electronic), fast doping/de-doping kinetics, adequate space for ionic intercalation, and incomparable structural as well as thermal stability, conducting polymers (CPs) have recently gained significant attention as electrode materials for SCs. This chapter covers the recent development of polymer-based electrode materials over the last decade. In this chapter we explain the working principles of SCs, the fundamentals of conducting polymers, their synthesis methods and the various kinds of conducting polymers that have been explored as SC electrodes to date, and how polymer-based electrode materials can further enhance energy density. Finally, a summary of the key developments together with predicted challenges and future forecasts are highlighted.