Sustainable Materials for Electrochemcial Capacitors

5Gel-Type Natural Polymers as Electroconductive Materials

Arshpreet Kaur, Madhvi and Dhiraj Sud*

Department of Chemistry, Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology, Deemed to be University, Longowal, Sangrur, India

Abstract

Natural polymer derived hydrogels have gained the considerable attention over the past years owing to their 3D cross-linked networks with interstitial spaces, consequently, can hold water molecules and biological fluids within their networking structures. These hydrogels exhibit a broad application spectrum owing to unique properties such as biocompatibility, stimuli responsive nature, hydrophilic properties, biodegradability etc. The treatment of hydrogels with electroactive materials led to endowment of electroconductive, electromechanical, and redox properties, subsequently recognized as smart hydrogel. This chapter delivers a brief overview on the classification of natural polymers and the naturally occurring polymeric materials employed for the hydrogel fabrication. Further, classification of hydrogels along with their various synthesis methods and properties has also been deliberated. In addition, the natural polymer based hydrogels possesses plethora of applications. Nevertheless, current development of natural polymer-based hydrogels as electroconductive materials gained a spotlight which has been discussed in this chapter along with their advantages and shortcomings.

Keywords: Natural polymer, hydrogel, synthesis, properties, electrochemical ...