Scientists at SNBNCBS synthesize porous and crystalline electrode material for Supercaps
Date: 08/11/2023
Supercapacitors, unlike regular capacitors, possess the ability to store a greater amount of electrical energy and transfer it at a faster rate than batteries. While they may not match the energy storage capacity of batteries, supercapacitors offer distinct advantages that render them highly valuable in various devices. Notably, they can be charged and discharged an infinite number of times, granting them an essentially limitless lifespan. Additionally, supercapacitors exhibit rapid charging and discharging capabilities, surpassing those of traditional batteries. Their appeal also stems from their wide temperature range, eco-friendliness, enhanced safety, heightened reliability, and maintenance-free operation. Given these exceptional attributes, extensive efforts are underway to enhance the reliability, efficiency, and longevity of supercapacitors through various means, such as the enhancement of their electrodes.
Carbon-based materials like graphene are widely utilized as electrode materials for Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) due to their exceptional energy transfer properties. Conversely, covalent organic frameworks (COFs), a type of porous and crystalline organic materials, have emerged as efficient and versatile electrodes for pseudocapacitors. These materials exhibit remarkable characteristics such as low density, high stability, and well-defined atomic arrangements.
Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a type of porous and crystalline organic material that has been synthesized by scientists. These COFs are incorporated with quinone groups and sulphur-containing thiophene groups, making them highly efficient and versatile electrodes for pseudocapacitors. This is due to their low density, high stability, and well-defined atomic arrangements.
Scientists from S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS), an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology (DST) have tailored their chemical properties by incorporating a wide range of organic functional groups into their backbone. The study published in Applied Energy Materials recently was led by Dr. Pradip Pachfule.
Dr Pachfule's team synthesized crystalline COF with dithiophenedione structures in its backbone (TTT-DHTD). The TTT-DHTD sample was prepared by a condensation reaction of two organic compounds -- 4,4˘,4˘˘-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)trianiline (TTT) with 4,8-dioxo-4,8-dihydrobenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b˘]dithiophene-2,6-dicarbaldehyde (DHTD).
The redox-active quinones showed promise as a low-cost, environmentally friendly, high-energy-density option for energy storage.
"We present a dithiophenedione-based COF that incorporates redox-active quinone groups and sulphur-containing thiophene moieties in a highly crystalline and porous COF. Due to these combined properties, the dithiophenedione-based COF exhibits excellent pseudocapacitive energy storage performance,” explains Dr Pachfule.
Evaluation of the charge storage performance of the TTT-DHTD showed a stable, reversible, symmetric pattern– suggesting a stable supercapacitor performance. Additionally, the TTT-DHTD COF maintained a high capacitance even after 2000 cycles, proving its recyclability for supercapacitors. Moreover, the TTT-DHTD outperformed other COF materials in terms of supercapacitor performance, marking a significant advancement in the production of top-notch supercapacitors.
For more information visit: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsaem.3c01072?ref=PDF
News Source for this story: Dept. Of Science and Technology
