Electrolytes have been identified as some of the most influential components in the performance of electrochemical supercapacitors (ESs), which include: electrical double-layer capacitors, pseudocapacitors and hybrid supercapacitors. This paper reviews recent progress in the research and development of ES electrolytes. The electrolytes are classified into several categories, including: aqueous, organic, ionic liquids, solid-state or quasi-solid-state, as well as redox-active electrolytes. Effects of electrolyte properties on ES performance are discussed in detail. The principles and methods of designing and optimizing electrolytes for ES performance and application are highlighted through a comprehensive analysis of the literature. Interaction among the electrolytes, electro-active materials and inactive components (current collectors, binders, and separators) is discussed. The challenges in producing high-performing electrolytes are analyzed. Several possible research directions to overcome these challenges are proposed for future efforts, with the main aim of improving ESs' energy density without sacrificing existing advantages (e.g., a high power density and a long cycle-life) (507 references).

A review of electrolyte materials and compositions for electrochemical supercapacitors

The science and technology of ultracapacitors are reviewed for a number of electrode materials, including carbon, mixed metal oxides, and conducting polymers. More work has been done using microporous carbons than with the other materials and most of the commercially available devices use carbon electrodes and an organic electrolytes. The energy density of these devices is 3¯5 Wh/kg with a power density of 300¯500 W/kg for high efficiency (90¯95%) charge/discharges. Projections of future developments using carbon indicate that energy densities of 10 Wh/kg or higher are likely with power densities of 1¯2 kW/kg. A key problem in the fabrication of these advanced devices is the bonding of the thin electrodes to a current collector such the contact resistance is less than 0.1 cm2. Special attention is given in the paper to comparing the power density characteristics of ultracapacitors and batteries. The comparisons should be made at the same charge/discharge efficiency.

Ultracapacitors: Why, How, and Where is the Technology

Flexible solid-state supercapacitors (FSSCs) are frontrunners in energy storage device technology and have attracted extensive attention owing to recent significant breakthroughs in modern wearable electronics In this study, we review the state-of-the-art advancements in FSSCs to provide new insights on mechanisms, emerging electrode materials, flexible gel electrolytes and novel cell designs The review begins with a brief introduction on the fundamental understanding of charge storage mechanisms based on the structural properties of electrode materials The next sections briefly summarise the latest progress in flexible electrodes (ie, freestanding and substrate-supported, including textile, paper, metal foil/wire and polymer-based substrates) and flexible gel electrolytes (ie, aqueous, organic, ionic liquids and redox-active gels) Subsequently, a comprehensive summary of FSSC cell designs introduces some emerging electrode materials, including MXenes, metal nitrides, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), polyoxometalates (POMs) and black phosphorus Some potential practical applications, such as the development of piezoelectric, photo-, shape-memory, self-healing, electrochromic and integrated sensor-supercapacitors are also discussed The final section highlights current challenges and future perspectives on research in this thriving field

Towards flexible solid-state supercapacitors for smart and wearable electronics

Advances in the use of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) have opened up a wide range of applications in the field of nanotechnology. The knowledge of the properties of PMMA has contributed a lot to the recent boosts in the synthesis, modification, and applications of the polymer. However, there is a need to condense these developments in the form of an article for better understanding and easy access. This review highlights the fundamental physical properties of PMMA, coupled with experimental evidence of its essential chemistry, such as solubility, hydrolysis, grafting, combustion reactions, reactions with amines, and thermal decomposition. The recent developments in the applications of PMMA in biomedical, optical, solar, sensors, battery electrolytes, nanotechnology, viscosity, pneumatic actuation, molecular separations, and polymer conductivity were also revealed.

A Review of the Properties and Applications of Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) (PMMA)

Beyond PEO-Alternative host materials for Li+-conducting solid polymer electrolytes

Good prospect of ionic liquid based-poly(vinyl alcohol) polymer electrolytes for supercapacitors with excellent electrical, electrochemical and thermal properties

Biodegradable corn starch–lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF 6 ) based biopolymer electrolytes were prepared by solution casting technique. Ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BmImPF 6 ) was doped into the polymer matrix. Upon addition of 50 wt.% BmImPF 6 , the maximum ionic conductivity of (1.47 ± 0.02) × 10 − 4  Scm − 1 was achieved due to its higher amorphous region. This result had been further proven in ATR-FTIR study. Frequency dependence of conductivity and dielectric studies reveal the occurrence of polarization at the electrolyte–electrode interface and thus form the electrical double layer, asserting the non-Debye characteristic of polymer electrolytes. This result is in good agreement with dielectric loss tangent study. Based on the changes in shift, changes in intensity, changes in shape and existence of some new peaks, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) divulged the complexation between corn starch, LiPF 6 and BmImPF 6 , as shown in the spectra.

Ion conducting corn starch biopolymer electrolytes doped with ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate

1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl imide), BmImTFSI based poly(methyl methacrylate)-poly (vinyl chloride), PMMA-PVC gel polymer electrolytes were prepared by solution casting technique. These ionic liquid-based gel polymer electrolytes exhibit Arrhenius type temperature dependence of ionic conductivity. The highest ionic conductivity of (8.08 ± 0.01) × 10 − 4  Scm −1 was achieved at 80 °C upon addition of 60 wt.% of BmImTFSI. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies revealed the amorphous nature and morphology of these polymer electrolytes, respectively. The lower coherence length of the peak inferred the higher amorphous degree in these polymer matrices. Decreases in T g and T m indicate the flexibility of polymer backbone. The amorphous behavior of these ionic liquid-based gel polymer electrolytes are also enhanced as shown in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. On the contrary, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) divulges that the thermal stability of polymer electrolytes has been improved upon impregnation of BmImTFSI.

Evaluation and investigation on the effect of ionic liquid onto PMMA-PVC gel polymer blend electrolytes

Characterization of ionic liquid added poly(vinyl alcohol)-based proton conducting polymer electrolytes and electrochemical studies on the supercapacitors

Capacitive behavior studies on electrical double layer capacitor using poly (vinyl alcohol)–lithium perchlorate based polymer electrolyte incorporated with TiO2

Chiam-Wen Liew

Papers

Good prospect of ionic liquid based-poly(vinyl alcohol) polymer electrolytes for supercapacitors with excellent electrical, electrochemical and thermal properties

Ion conducting corn starch biopolymer electrolytes doped with ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate

Evaluation and investigation on the effect of ionic liquid onto PMMA-PVC gel polymer blend electrolytes

Characterization of ionic liquid added poly(vinyl alcohol)-based proton conducting polymer electrolytes and electrochemical studies on the supercapacitors

Capacitive behavior studies on electrical double layer capacitor using poly (vinyl alcohol)–lithium perchlorate based polymer electrolyte incorporated with TiO2