Issue 40, 2015

Dual purpose poly(3,4-ethylenedioxypyrrole)/vanadium pentoxide nanobelt hybrids in photoelectrochromic cells and supercapacitors

Abstract

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxypyrrole) (PEDOP)/vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) nanobelt hybrid films were prepared for the first time. V2O5 nanobelts with a monoclinic structure were grown by a hydrothermal route and a PEDOT layer was coated onto V2O5 nanobelts by electropolymerization to yield the PEDOP/V2O5 hybrid. The hybrid showed a fourfold increment in electrical conductivity compared to the pristine oxide, and a work function of 4.71 eV (by Kelvin probe force microscopy), which was intermediate to that of PEDOP and V2O5. Both oxide and hybrid showed green-red luminescence. The PEDOP/V2O5 hybrid or V2O5 films were assembled into energy saving photoelectrochromic cells, by combining with a photovoltaic electrode of CdS/titania, and in response to 1 sun illumination for different durations, the hybrid showed a dynamic transmission modulation (ΔT), as it switched from a yellow to a dark green optical state, without the application of any external bias, by simply consuming the electrical current produced by the irradiated CdS/titania. The hybrid exhibited a maximum ΔT of 65.5% at 475 nm, which was greater by 82% compared to pristine V2O5 at the same wavelength. The ability of PEDOP to provide facile conduction pathways for fast and improved electron transfer and transport in the PEDOP/V2O5 hybrid, enhances the optical contrast produced. The versatility of the hybrid was established by assembling asymmetric supercapacitors with the hybrid or polymer or oxide and a liquid electrolyte. The synergistic effects of PEDOP (high electrical conductivity) and V2O5 nanobelts (large surface area) and their ability to store/release charge by undergoing reversible Faradaic reactions were reflected in a high specific capacitance of 224 F g−1 delivered by the hybrid, higher by 83% and 69% relative to pristine V2O5 and PEDOP. The hybrid shows an energy density of 223 W h kg−1 at a power density of 3.8 kW kg−1, and an acceptable cycling performance with 90% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles. The PEDOP/V2O5 hybrid is useful for advanced next-generation self-powered electrochromic smart windows and supercapacitors.

Graphical abstract: Dual purpose poly(3,4-ethylenedioxypyrrole)/vanadium pentoxide nanobelt hybrids in photoelectrochromic cells and supercapacitors

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
21 Mar 2015
Accepted
25 Mar 2015
First published
25 Mar 2015

RSC Adv., 2015,5, 31422-31433

Dual purpose poly(3,4-ethylenedioxypyrrole)/vanadium pentoxide nanobelt hybrids in photoelectrochromic cells and supercapacitors

B. N. Reddy, R. Mukkabla, M. Deepa and P. Ghosal, RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 31422 DOI: 10.1039/C5RA05015D

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