Cation vs. anion insertion in hybrid materials based on conducting organic polymers for energy storage applications

The anchoring of polyoxometalates in conducting organic polymers provides an opportunity to form hybrid materials where the chemical and electrochemical properties of the inorganic molecules can be harnessed into useful physical properties. The incorporation of phosphomolybdate ([PMo12O40]3−) as the only doping counterion in Polyaniline is shown to stand reduction cycles without deinsertion of the bulky anion and with insertion of lithium ions into the hybrid. This material represents a model of a novel kind of insertion electrodes for energy storage applications.