Recent Progress of the Application of Electropolymerization in Batteries and Supercapacitors: Specific Design of Functions in Electrodes

Abstract

Electrochemical energy storage devices play a vital role in human life, and the requirements for their sustainability and environmental friendliness have been increasing in recent years. Electropolymerization, as a convenient method for polymer synthesis, has attracted increasing attentions in applications in the field of energy storage and conversion. It is not only commonly employed for the fabrication of various self-supporting electrodes, but also is one of the most promising preparation strategies for organic electrode materials, internal interlayers within electrodes, functional protective layers, and current collector surface modifications. Previously published works have confirmed that the introduction of electropolymerization can effectively improve the electrochemical performance of various energy storage devices. However, there are still challenges in the universality of the synthesis route, in-depth understanding of interface chemical behavior, and scaled-up production. This mini review summarizes the main components in electropolymerization, material synthesis mechanisms, and their application principles in batteries and supercapacitors. Additionally, the current challenges and future development directions of electropolymerization have been discussed, offering some perspectives for further exploration.