Electropolymerization of high stable poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) in ionic liquids and its potential applications in electrochemical capacitor

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) has been successfully electropolymerized using a purified 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF4]) as both the growth medium and the supporting electrolyte. The electrochemical performance of the PEDOT thin film was investigated in I mol L-1 H2SO4 solution. It possesses nearly ideal capacitive property, and its specific capacitance is about 130Fg(-1). Compared with other conducting polymers, enhanced cycling lifetime (up to 70,000 cycles), which is close to that of active carbon materials, was observed on repetitive redox cycling. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.