Overview

• Tohoku University and NITTO BOSEKI created a hydroquinone-substituted polyallylamine to overcome hydrophobicity that has hindered organic electrodes in water-based systems.
• A simple condensation reaction inserts p-dihydroxybenzene into a positively charged, water-soluble polyamine, yielding a highly hydrophilic electrode polymer.
• The material operates as an electrode at 25°C and can be broken down into its raw components under mild conditions below 100°C.
• Water-based electrolytes avoid the fire risks of flammable solvents, and the polymer’s composition from abundant elements may reduce resource use and plastic pollution.
• The peer-reviewed study was published online August 26 in Polymer Journal and selected for the 2025 Rising Stars issue, with durability and broader performance testing planned next.