The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

Supercapacitors are promising next-generation energy storage devices due to their high power density, rapid charge-discharge capability. While most studies have focused on active materials, the role of binders has received relative little attention despite their direct influence on electrode architecture and electrochemical behavior. Conventional fluorinated binders offer good chemical stability and mechanical adhesion. However, their insulating nature can block the pores of porous carbon electrodes, limiting effective surface area utilization and impeding charge transport. Herein, we introduce a protein-derived, heteroatom-rich functional binder designed to overcome these limitations. The proposed binder preserves the porous structure of the active material, minimizes electrochemically inactive regions, and promotes efficient electric double-layer charge storage. As a result, electrodes employing this binder exhibit significantly enhanced energy density compared with those using PVDF.