An all-polymer-air PEDOT battery

Mass-produced organic electronics for internet-of-things, point of care diagnostics, smart labels and more suggest development of a “green” and recyclable electronics. One of the greatest challenges in achieving such a technology platform is to establish low-cost batteries that are metal-free. Here, we demonstrate a thin all polymer-air battery where the anode and cathode are based on the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). Polyethyleneimine (PEI) is combined with the PEDOT electrode to ensure air stability of its neutral or rather “low oxidized” form at the anode, while PEDOT is in its oxidized state at the cathode. The difference in the oxidation level between the two PEDOT electrodes produces an open circuit voltage of about 0.5 V. Upon discharge, PEI is consumed at the PEDOT anode, while O2 reacts with the PEDOT cathode; thus demonstrating the first all-polymer-air battery.

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► We have fabricated a low-cost metal-free battery only made of polymeric materials.
► Polyethyleneimine reacts slowly at the low oxidized state PEDOT anode.
► Upon discharge, the dioxygen reacts with at the PEDOT cathode.
► The PEDOT battery produces an open circuit voltage of about 0.5 V.