Sulfonate/sulfonic-acid pendant chain containing reactive polymer composites for green energy technologies: future prospects

Abstract

Recently, energy storage and conversion innovation have been a significant point of debate in various nations for an array of vital domains for commercial, industrial, and academic activities. As a result, a lot of scientists are inspired to work on introducing high-quality materials and components to create devices that have good electrochemical performances. Supercapacitors, rechargeable batteries, and fuel cells emerged as the leading energy storage systems (ESSs) with outstanding efficiency compatible with electric cars and next-generation smart devices. As a result, scientists have been working to create appropriate materials and composites for the aforementioned devices, including electrodes, electrolytes, bipolar plates, ion exchange membranes, and catalyst layers. Sulfonated binary and ternary polymer composite assembly are latent polymeric materials that bargain keystone in several applications and come across the evolving demands mounting from scientific advances that unlocked new horizons for researchers. Binary and ternary polymer composites bearing sulfonate pendants groups offer higher electrical conductivity, increased mechanical and thermal stabilities, high corrosion resistance, and low reaction energy. In the present review, we have surveyed and complied research data on binary and ternary polymer composite containing sulfonate/sulfonic-acid as pendant groups that have attracted much attention in energy storage, production, and conversion devices owing to flexibility, high surface exposure, environmental stability, and robust charge transformation. Charge selectivity and reduced energy barrier significantly improves the performance of energy supply systems. The sulphonic group improves hydrophilicity, proton conductivity, ion exchange capacity, and water uptake in the polymer chain. In this way, it simulates pendent chemistry and stimulates a model inspiration for future research and innovation. For this reason, we have explored the electrochemistry of binary and ternary reactive polymer composite linked sulfonate/sulfonic acid groups which would be beneficial to the scientific research community.

Graphical abstract