Synthesis, Structure, and Electrochemical Properties of Hybrid Metal-Polymer Materials Promising for Fuel Cells and Supercapacitors

Grant Number: 13-03-00984
Field: Chemistry and Materials Science
Competition Type: "a" (initiative scientific projects, up to 2016)
Year: 2013
Principal Investigator: V. V. Kondratyev
Application Status: Supported

Project Description

This project is focused on developing the scientific and technological foundations for obtaining and utilizing new nanostructured rechargeable materials based on conducting polymers and nanoscale metal structures (nanoparticles, nanowires) and metal oxides. Emphasis is placed on:

• The design principles for targeted synthesis of nanostructured metal-polymer electrode materials
• Elucidating the role of structural and morphological factors on the catalytic and energy storage properties of hybrid films on electrodes

Main synthesis methods:
Chemical and electrochemical synthesis of polymers with embedded metals and metal oxides.

Project goals:

• Systematic study of structural/size effects and metal loading on electrochemical properties of metal-polymer composites
• Fundamental understanding of charge transport in polymer/metal oxide materials and development of new nanocomposite electrode materials and devices

Project Report

Main results:

1. Developed and successfully applied several new methods for creating complex hierarchical composite structures of conducting polymer with metal and metal oxide nanoparticles:
   • Layered structures with alternating polymer and metal inclusions produced by electrochemical deposition (e.g., PEDOT/NiO, PEDOT/MnO₂, PEDOT/WO₃)
   • Composites formed by polymer growth through finely dispersed metal oxide precipitates (PEDOT/MnO₂, PEDOT/NiO), and chemical metal oxide deposition with redox interaction with polymers (PEDOT/MnO₂, PEDOT/PSS/MnO₂)
2. Detailed electrochemical characterization (cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charging, impedance spectroscopy) for a series of composites:
   • Energy storage focus: PEDOT/MnO₂, PEDOT/NiO, PEDOT/PSS/MnO₂
   • Catalysis focus: PEDOT/NiO, PEDOT/Ag, PEDOT/PSS/Pd
   • Metal oxides in the polymer films sharply increase composite capacitance: PEDOT/MnO₂ 220–310 F/g, PEDOT/NiO 160–200 F/g, varying by oxide content
   • Studied electrocatalytic properties for hydrazine/ethanol oxidation, showing impact of metal loading
   • PEDOT/WO₃ characterized in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solution
3. Structural analysis via SEM/TEM, X-ray scattering, X-ray photoelectron, and IR spectroscopy:
   • Determined sizes and distributions of metal-containing inclusions; examined electronic state of manganese/nickel ions in PEDOT/MnO₂, PEDOT/NiO films
   • Using depth profiling and photoemission, mapped manganese oxide distribution in PEDOT/MnO₂
4. Quartz microgravimetry and atomic absorption analysis elucidated film composition and redox stoichiometry

All project tasks were fully completed. Results included 34 publications (1 book chapter, 12 journal articles, 19 conference abstracts, 2 patents).

Annotations are original as of 01.11.2025.