Extremely Stable Supercapacitors Enabled by Novel Conducting Polymer Complex PEDOT:CF3SO2(x)PSS(1-x).

Herein, a novel conducting polymer complex PEDOT:CF3SO2(x)PSS(1-x) (denoted S-PEDOT:CF3SO2(x)PSS(1-x)) is fabricated assistant by Zinc di[bis(trifluoromenthylsulfonyl) imide](Zn(TFSI)2) (CFE). The introduction of CF3SO2- group is expected to bring better stability of PEDOT:CF3SO2 than PEDOT:PSS due to its strong Coulomb force. Electrochemical measurement shows that a high specific capacitance 194 F cm-3 was achieved from the novel complex S-PEDOT:CF3SO2(x)PSS(1-x), the highest value reported so far. All-solid-state supercapacitor with a structure of S-PEDOT:CF3SO2(x)PSS(1-x)/H2SO4:PVA/ S-PEDOT:CF3SO2(x)PSS(1-x) shows a record specific capacitance of 70.9 F cm-3, a maximum energy density of 6.02 mWh cm-3 at a power density of 397 mW cm-3. To our surprise, this supercapacitor device demonstrates very excellent electrochemical stability with a capacitance retention rate of 98% after 10000 cycles and extreme air stability of 96% capacitance retention rate after 10000 cycles even the device is exposed to air over 2880 hours, much better than that of PEDOT:PSS based supercapacitors. Excellent capacitance can be achieved from PEDOT:CF3SO2(x)PSS(1-x) electrode under electrolyte-free conditions. This work provides a novel method for high performance stable supercapacitors and may pave the way for the commercialization of PEDOT based supercapacitors.