Effective Porous Filler Design for Streaming Potential-Driven Electropolymerization

Bipolar electrode (BPE) systems have been attracting increasing attention owing to their cost-effectiveness and wireless design. Recently, we reported the concept of streaming potential-driven BPEs for the oxidative electropolymerization of aromatic monomers without the need for an electric power supply. However, our previous system, which used cotton as a filler material, had limitations in inducing suitable potential differences and charge amounts. In this study, various electrolytes and filling materials for flow cells were investigated for generating streaming potential. The results demonstrate that the use of bicontinuous porous filler materials and electrolytes containing ammonium cations and small anions effectively induces high streaming potential values. Consequently, the monomer scope of our electropolymerization method was extended compared to that of the prototype cell. In addition, a divided flow cell was developed to overcome the limitations of the available reaction.