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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Polymers

Conducting Polymers in Electrolyte and Separator Engineering for Zn-Ion Hybrid Capacitors

  • Thi Thuong Thuong Nguyen1
  • Yichun Su2
  • Cuong Van Le1
  • Hyeonseung Yoon3
  • Ping Liu2,4
  • Hyeonseok Yoon1,3
4 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Polymer Engineering, Graduate School, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
  2. 2School of Petrochemical Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China
  3. 3School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
  4. 4Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Biodegradable Materials, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China
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Abstract

Conducting polymers (CPs) have emerged as multifunctional components that modulate electrolyte and separator design for Zn-ion hybrid capacitors, with selected Zn-based battery and alkali-ion systems used as mechanistic references rather than direct performance evidence. Their π-conjugated backbones, tunable doping states, and reversible redox chemistry enable coupled ion transport, interfacial charge regulation, and mechanically compliant ion-conducting environments. However, CP integration also requires careful control of electronic leakage, self-discharge, short-circuit risk, and redox-state-dependent swelling, particularly when CP domains are introduced into separator architectures. This review examines how CP-containing electrolytes and separator-related architectures can regulate ion transport and interfacial charge distribution, provided that continuous electronic pathways are suppressed. In aqueous, quasi-solid gel, solid polymer, and redox-active electrolytes, CP-containing domains are examined in terms of ionic conductivity, Zn2+ transport, solvation regulation, and polarization mitigation. In separator-related architectures, spatially confined and electronically interrupted CP domains are discussed with emphasis on ion-flux homogenization, dendrite suppression, electron-blocking requirements, and dimensional stability. Comparative analyses separate directly demonstrated Zn-ion hybrid capacitor behavior from mechanisms inferred from related ion-storage systems. Finally, future directions are discussed for quantitative benchmarking, scalable CP processing, and architecture-controlled CP domains for coordinated electrolyte and separator design.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{nguyen2026conducting,
  title = {{Conducting Polymers in Electrolyte and Separator Engineering for Zn-Ion Hybrid Capacitors}},
  author = {Thi Thuong Thuong Nguyen and Yichun Su and Cuong Van Le and Hyeonseung Yoon and Ping Liu and Hyeonseok Yoon},
  journal = {Polymers},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/polym18202514},
  url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/20/2514},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Conducting Polymers in Electrolyte and Separator Engineering for Zn-Ion Hybrid Capacitors
AU  - Thi Thuong Thuong Nguyen
AU  - Yichun Su
AU  - Cuong Van Le
AU  - Hyeonseung Yoon
AU  - Ping Liu
AU  - Hyeonseok Yoon
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/01
JO  - Polymers
DO  - 10.3390/polym18202514
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/20/2514
AB  - Conducting polymers (CPs) have emerged as multifunctional components that modulate electrolyte and separator design for Zn-ion hybrid capacitors, with selected Zn-based battery and alkali-ion systems used as mechanistic references rather than direct performance evidence. Their π-conjugated backbones, tunable doping states, and reversible redox chemistry enable coupled ion transport, interfacial charge regulation, and mechanically compliant ion-conducting environments. However, CP integration also requires careful control of electronic leakage, self-discharge, short-circuit risk, and redox-state-dependent swelling, particularly when CP domains are introduced into separator architectures. This review examines how CP-containing electrolytes and separator-related architectures can regulate ion transport and interfacial charge distribution, provided that continuous electronic pathways are suppressed. In aqueous, quasi-solid gel, solid polymer, and redox-active electrolytes, CP-containing domains are examined in terms of ionic conductivity, Zn2+ transport, solvation regulation, and polarization mitigation. In separator-related architectures, spatially confined and electronically interrupted CP domains are discussed with emphasis on ion-flux homogenization, dendrite suppression, electron-blocking requirements, and dimensional stability. Comparative analyses separate directly demonstrated Zn-ion hybrid capacitor behavior from mechanisms inferred from related ion-storage systems. Finally, future directions are discussed for quantitative benchmarking, scalable CP processing, and architecture-controlled CP domains for coordinated electrolyte and separator design.
SN  - 2073-4360
ER  -