Conducting Polymer Hydrogels as 3D Electrodes: Applications for Supercapacitors

Abstract

One way to increase the rate of an electrochemical process is to increase the area of the interface between the electrode and the electrolyte. A novel polymer electrode, with a very high effective surface area and a nanometer-scale continuous conducting network that extends into a large volume, is presented and its preparation from a commercially available aqueous dispersion of a conducting polymer described. An application to supercapacitors is detailed, as a demonstration of the properties that are a consequence of the unique structure of the material.