Ultrathin polymer electrochemical microcapacitors for on-chip and flexible electronics

Advances in organic electronics necessitates, ultrathin and miniaturized implantable energy storage modules. Here, an approach for the fabrication of on-chip, ultraflexible electrochemical capacitors is demonstrated. Two different electroactive conjugated polymers are utilized in a fabrication route that allows the patterning of finger electrodes for an ultraflexible energy storage technology. A strategy is demonstrated to realize supercapacitors with a total device thickness of 4 mu m, including substrate, polymer electrode, and electrolyte. Interdigitated 20 -finger electrodes from either Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) or poly-thiophene functionalized with tetraethylene glycol side chains P(g42T-T), with 50 mu m or 90 mu m electrode spacings, are fabricated using a parylene peel off method, followed by electrolyte deposition. The miniaturized devices show 0.77 mF/cm2 areal capacitance for PEDOT:PSS and 0.06 mF/cm2 for P(g42T-T). Furthermore, the devices exhibit excellent mechanical durability, showing robust operational performance at a bending radius of 6.5 mm.

Automated summary

Demonstrated is an approach for the fabrication of on-chip, ultraflexible electrochemical capacitors, which are essential for advances in organic electronics. By utilizing two different electroactive conjugated polymers, finger electrodes are patterned for an ultraflexible energy storage technology. The miniaturized devices show excellent mechanical durability and robust operational performance at a bending radius of 6.5 mm.