Schiff base polymers containing ferrocene and carbon nanotubes prepared by one-step synthesis method for supercapattery

• Published in: Journal of solid state electrochemistry Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 197 - 212
• Main Authors: Ma, Yukun, Zhao, Hui, Shu, Ronglu, Zhang, Cunshe, Wang, Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Activated carbon; Analytical Chemistry; Capacitance; Carbon; Carbon nanotubes; Channels; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Charge transfer; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed Matter Physics; Electrochemical analysis; Electrochemistry; Electrode materials; Electron clouds; Electrons; Energy Storage; Imines; Ion transport; Materials selection; Original Paper; Performance enhancement; Physical Chemistry; Pi-electrons; Polymers; Supercapacitors; Synthesis; Schiff base; Porous organic polymer; Supercapattery; π-π conjugate
• ISSN: 1432-8488; 1433-0768
• DOI: 10.1007/s10008-023-05674-9

Supercapattery has drawn attention due to its superior tip-discharge efficiency and high energy density without affecting the cycle stability compared to conventional batteries and supercapacitors (SCs). Redox-active porous organic polymers (POPs) are regarded as promising energy storage materials due to the presence of overlapped π-electron clouds between the stacked layers, conjugated backbone, and high-rate charge transfer channels. However, single POPs material has fewer electroactive sites resulting from the broad and ordered π-π stacking in the network structure, limiting their corresponding electrochemical performance. In the present paper, Schiff base polymers containing ferrocene (Fc) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared by one pot synthesis method for high-performance supercapattery. The microstructure studies exhibit that the CNTs were combined with the amorphous Schiff base polymer backbone. Moreover, the charge storage mechanism was discussed in detail. The electrochemical properties studies present that the sample (SPOP-Fc 0.4 /CNTs-5) possess the maximal specific capacitance (201.3 mAh g −1 ) at 0.5 A g −1 and the excellent specific capacity retention (retaining 84.3% of initial capacitance after 5000 GCD cycles at the current density of 10 A g −1 ). The enhanced performance shown by SPOP-Fc 0.4 /CNTs-5 was attributed to the synergy produced by the redox behavior and conjugated backbone provided by SPOP, the doping of Fc, and high-speed ion transport channels provided by CNTs. To evaluate the practicability of electrode materials, the asymmetric supercapattery devices (ASC) were assembled in a configuration of the SPOP-Fc 0.4 /CNTs-5//activated carbon (AC). SPOP-Fc 0.4 /CNTs-5//AC delivered a superb energy density of 65.9 Wh kg −1 with a power density of 344.8 W kg −1 while remaining almost 73.6% of the specific capacitance even after 5000 continuous GCD cycles. These Schiff-based POPs with advanced electrochemical capabilities deliver a fresh solution for material selection in energy storage, present extensively apply prospects in energy storage field.