A solar rechargeable battery based on polymeric charge storage electrodes

A solar rechargeable battery is constructed by use of a hybrid TiO2/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene, PEDOT) photo-anode and a ClO4− doped polypyrrole counter electrode. Here, the dye-sensitized TiO2/PEDOT photo-anode serves for positive charge storage and a p-doped PPy counter electrode acts for electron storage in LiClO4 electrolyte. The proposed device demonstrates a rapid photo-charge at light illumination and a stable electrochemical discharge in the dark, realizing an in situ solar-to-electric conversion and storage.

► A solar rechargeable battery (SRB) is developed based on hole and electron storage.
► The SRB demonstrates an effective solar-to-electric conversion and storage.
► The photo-charge/discharge reactions proceed via reversible doping/de-doping of ClO4−.