History and Progress of Polymers for Energy Applications

• Published in: Polymers in Energy Conversion and Storage Vol. 1; pp. 1 - 11
• Main Authors: Thalji, Mohammad R., Ali, Gomaa A. M., Chong, Kwok Feng
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: United Kingdom CRC Press 2022; Taylor & Francis Group
• Edition: 1
• Subjects: Energy Density; Polymer materials; Air Cathode Microbial Fuel Cell; Supercapacitors; Energy Storage Applications; Energy Conversion Applications; Fuel cells; Electrode Material; Energy conversion; Cellulose Hydrogel; Symmetric Supercapacitor; Pseudocapacitive Electrode Material; Microbial Fuel Cell; Electrochemical Capacitors; PSS Film; Solar cells; Graphite Oxide; Efficient Ion Transport; Catalyst Preparation Process; Cycling Stability; Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting; Carbon Black Composite; EDLCs; Polymeric Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell; Electrochemical Performance; PPy; Electrochromic Devices; Energy storage
• ISBN: 9780367770815; 0367770814; 9780367770891; 036777089X
• DOI: 10.1201/9781003169727-1

Polymer materials have attracted the interest of researchers in recent years as electrode materials and electrolytes for a variety of energy applications such as supercapacitors, batteries, fuel cells, solar cells, and electrochromic devices. Over the last few decades, there has been a great deal of research into the potential applications of these materials. Conducting polymers, in particular, exhibit semiconductor-like properties, and they have emerged as fascinating materials for the fabrication of electronic devices. This chapter covers the history and progress of polymer materials in several energy applications divided into energy storage and energy conversion applications. Metal oxides, metal sulfides, and conducting polymers have been investigated as the electrode for pseudocapacitors to improve the specific capacitance and energy density of PCs. Conducting polymers belong to pseudocapacitive electrode material that has been widely investigated for various energy storage applications like supercapacitors and batteries. The insertion of carbon-based materials within conducting polymers plays a critical part in improving overall electrochemical performance. The carbon-based supercapacitors and conducting polymers have shown improvements in electrochemical performance, as well as flexibility. Due to the excellent conductivity and high flexibility of conducting polymers, which typically display high catalytic activity and good stability, they promise use as electrocatalysts of fuel cells. Carbon-based materials inserted into conducting polymers play a critical role in improving overall electrochemical efficiency. Polymer materials have attracted the interest of researchers in recent years as electrode materials and electrolytes for a variety of energy applications such as supercapacitors, batteries, fuel cells, solar cells, and electrochromic devices.