Comparative Studies on Two-Electrode Symmetric Supercapacitors Based on Polypyrrole:Poly(4-styrenesulfonate) with Different Molecular Weights of Poly(4-styrenesulfonate)

Abstract

Poly(4-styrenesulfonate)-conducting polymer (PSS-CP) is advantageous for thin-film electrode manufacturing due to its high conductivity, high charge storage, structural stability, and excellent ink dispersion. In this work, comparative studies of two-electrode symmetric supercapacitors using Polypyrrole:Poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PPy:PSS), with different molecular weights (M-w's) of Poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) as the electrodes, were performed. PPy:PSS can be easily prepared using a simple solution process that enables the mass production of thin-film electrodes with improved electrical and electrochemical properties. As-prepared PPy:PSS, with different PSS molecular weights, were assembled into two-electrode supercapacitors based on coin cell structures. It was confirmed that the electrical and electrochemical properties of PPy:PSS were improved with increasing PSS molecular weight. The coin cell, using PPy:PSS with a PSS molecular weight of 1.0 x 10(6) g/mol, exhibited higher areal capacitance (175.3 mF/cm(2)), higher volumetric capacitance (584.2 F/cm(3)), and longer cycling stability (86.3% after 5000 cycles) compared to those of PPy:PSS with PSS molecular weights of 2.0 x 10(5) and 7.0 x 10(4) g/mol. This work provides an efficient approach for producing cost-effective and miniaturized supercapacitors with high conductivity and high specific capacitance for practical applications in a variety of electronic devices.