Molecular Bonding Engineering Enables Ultra‐Stable Electrochromic Energy Storage in Flexible PEDOT Devices

C Chunhui Du (Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University/Nanchang Jiaotong Institute Nanchang Jiangxi 330013 P. R. China) X Xu Cheng (QTF Center of Excellence, Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering) G Ge Zhang J Jingkun Xu (College of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Xinyang Normal University 1 , Xinyang 464000,) J Jianming Zhang (Institute of Quantum and Sustainable Technology (IQST), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) G Guangming Nie (State Key Laboratory of Advanced Optical Polymer and Manufacturing Technology Key Laboratory of Optic‐Electric Sensing and Analytical Chemistry for Life Science MOE State Key Laboratory Base of Eco‐chemical Engineering College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Qingdao University of Science and Technology Qingdao 266042 P. R. China) Y Yao Huang (Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, Innovative Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences) S Shun Li (Institute of Quantum and Sustainable Technology (IQST), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) Y Yuqiao Zhang (Institute of Quantum and Sustainable Technology (IQST), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) L Long Zhang Y Yuanhua Lin

Abstract

Abstract Wearable electronics require materials that can withstand mechanical deformation while retaining electrochemical and optoelectronic functionality. Conducting polymers (CPs) are attractive candidates due to their inherent flexibility and electronic conductivity. However, their practical application is often limited by poor long‐term stability and deteriorated performance, particularly under thermal or mechanical stress, owing to structural degradation and overoxidation at high potentials. Herein, a dual‐strategy molecular design is adopted to intrinsically stabilize poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) by combining deuterium substitution with Lewis acid‐assisted polymerization, which suppresses backbone vibrational energy and mitigates over‐oxidative degradation during redox cycling. The resulting deuterated PEDOT film demonstrates exceptional multifunctional performance, including <5% capacitance loss after 300 000 cycles, a high electrochromic contrast of 40.9% at 700 nm, and a specific capacitance of 317 F g −1 at 1 A g −1 . PEDOT‐D ‐based wearable electrochromic‐supercapacitor devices subsequently exhibit 14.3% transmittance at 550 nm, a specific capacitance of 39.7 F g −1 at 1 A g −1 , robust stability, and reliable operation from −25 to 50 °C. This work establishes a structurally grounded molecular strategy for advancing the durability of CPs, providing a rational design for next‐generation flexible energy systems that are mechanically robust, thermally adaptive, and optically responsive.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 8
Published February 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (11)

C

Chunhui Du

Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University/Nanchang Jiaotong Institute Nanchang Jiangxi 330013 P. R. China

X

Xu Cheng

QTF Center of Excellence, Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering

G

Ge Zhang

J

Jingkun Xu

College of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Xinyang Normal University 1 , Xinyang 464000,

J

Jianming Zhang

Institute of Quantum and Sustainable Technology (IQST), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

G

Guangming Nie

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Optical Polymer and Manufacturing Technology Key Laboratory of Optic‐Electric Sensing and Analytical Chemistry for Life Science MOE State Key Laboratory Base of Eco‐chemical Engineering College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Qingdao University of Science and Technology Qingdao 266042 P. R. China

Y

Yao Huang

Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, Innovative Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences

S

Shun Li

Institute of Quantum and Sustainable Technology (IQST), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Y

Yuqiao Zhang

Institute of Quantum and Sustainable Technology (IQST), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

L

Long Zhang

Y

Yuanhua Lin