Mechanism of self-discharge in conductive polymer electrodes

Abstract Self-discharge in conductive polymer electrodes is not caused by degradation of polymers or by reaction of impurity. Decomposition of electrolyte solution followed by undoping is proposed to be the mechanism of self-discharge and an equation predicting the time dependence of an open-circuit potential of polymer electrodes is derived. Decomposition is observed in LiClO 4 /propylene carbonate + dimethoxyethane solution and the proposed equation is supported experimentally.