Layer‐by‐Layer 2D Ultrathin Conductive Cu3(HHTP)2 Film for High‐Performance Flexible Transparent Supercapacitors

• Published in: Advanced materials interfaces Vol. 8; no. 11
• Main Authors: Zhao, Weiwei, Chen, Tiantian, Wang, Weikang, Bi, Shuaihang, Jiang, Mengyue, Zhang, Kenneth Yin, Liu, Shujuan, Huang, Wei, Zhao, Qiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.06.2021
• Subjects: Diffusion rate; Electron transfer; Energy storage; flexible transparent supercapacitors; high‐rate capability; Indium tin oxides; Ion diffusion; Ion transport; layer‐by‐layer assembly; Metal-organic frameworks; photoelectric activity; Photoelectricity; Polyethylene terephthalate; Substrates; Supercapacitors
• ISSN: 2196-7350; 2196-7350
• DOI: 10.1002/admi.202100308

2D conductive metal–organic frameworks (2D c‐MOFs) naturally possess high active sites, large specific surface areas, and fast ion transport for energy‐storage devices. However, the intelligent exploration of 2D c‐MOFs for the emerging flexible transparent supercapacitors (FTSCs) with excellent photoelectric property and electrochemical activity is rarely implemented. Herein, 2D conductive ultrathin Cu3(HHTP)2 (HHTP = 2,3,6,7,10,11‐hexahydroxytriphenylene) film is synthesized on the indium tin oxide/polyethylene terephthalate (ITO/PET) substrate for flexible transparent conductive electrodes (FTCEs) through the layer‐by‐layer assembly method. The interconnected conductive frameworks possess the cooperative superiority of low internal resistance, fast electrolyte ion diffusion, and quick electron transfer. Cu3(HHTP)2‐15/ITO/PET FTCEs show high photoelectric property of T550 nm = 82.2% and Rs = 49.1 Ω sq−1, and high areal capacitance (CA) of 1700 µF cm−2. The corresponding symmetrical FTSCs (T550 nm = 62.1%) exhibit excellent CA of 939.2 µF cm−2 at the current density of 7 µA cm−2, superior rate capability (63.9% at 150 µA cm−2), long‐term cycling stability (85% after 3000 cycles), and mechanical flexibility under different bending angles. This work provides key insights into the design and synthesis of 2D c‐MOF films for flexible transparent energy‐storage devices. Conductive Cu3(HHTP)2 thin films are first used as capacitive electrodes in flexible transparent supercapacitors. The collaborative advantages of intrinsic conductivity, high crystallinity, perfect oriented pores, and uniform large area endow Cu3(HHTP)2 films with remarkable optoelectronic property, electrochemical performance, and mechanical flexibility through fundamentally improving the electron/ion transfer and reinforcing bending resistance.