Electrochemical Energy Storage Enhanced by Intermediate Layer Stacking of Heteroatom-Enriched Covalent Organic Polymers in Exfoliated Graphene

Abstract

Covalent organic polymers (COPs) have garnered attention as potential materials for various applications, including catalysis, gas storage, and energy production. Owing to their highly conjugated structures, chemical stability, adjustable band gap, and tunable functionality, COPs have emerged as a versatile material. However, their inherent structural rigidity and poor conductivity pose challenges for energy storage applications. To address these limitations, graphene has been incorporated as a conductive filler due to its exceptional conductivity and structural integrity. This study presents an innovative approach utilizing in-situ electrophoretic exfoliation of graphite strip to develop a COP-graphene nanohybrid system (RTh-COP-EGR) that enhances supercapacitor performance. Resulting from the synergistic effect of heteroatoms enriched RTh-COP and conductive graphene layers, the resulting RTh-COP-EGR nanohybrid demonstrates a capacitance of 4.2 mF cm-2 at a current density of 70 μA cm-2, with an energy density of 0.4725 mWh cm-2 and a power density of 314.4 W cm-2 at higher current densities. Furthermore, this nanohybrid exhibits an impressive capacity retention of 82% over 10,000 cycles, showcasing its potential for advanced energy storage applications.