Research Status of Polytriphenylamine-Based Electrode Materials in Electrochromic Supercapacitors

Abstract

The electrochromic supercapacitor (ECSC) is an emerging device that integrates energystorage and opticalmodulation functions, with its performance fundamentally dependent on the electrode materials. This article systematically reviews the research progress on polytriphenylaminebased electrode materials for ECSCs. It begins by introducing the basic structure and working mechanism of ECSCs, highlighting their high compatibility with conventional supercapacitors in both architecture and operation. Subsequently, the characteristics of three major categories of electrode materials—inorganic compounds, organic small molecules (e.g., viologens), and conductive polymers (e.g., polyaniline, polythiophene, polypyrrole and their derivatives)—are analyzed, with polytriphenylaminebased materials standing out as a research focus owing to their low cost, ease of modification, and tunable optoelectronic properties. The article further outlines the challenges faced by polytriphenylamine materials in ECSCs, such as structural stability, energystorage density, and limited colorswitching range, and proposes performanceoptimization strategies including molecular design, bipolar doping, and sidechain engineering. Finally, the application prospects of ECSCs in areas such as energysaving smart windows and flexible wearable electronics are discussed, emphasizing their significant potential for achieving visual energy management and intelligent humanmachine interaction.