3,4-Dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine and ethylenedioxythiophene were chemically copolymerized via an oxidative process in aqueous solution. The copolymer was used as a novel mussel-inspired electroactive binder in conjunction with a nickel-based metal organic frame work for fabrication of environmentally friendly supercapacitors. The binder, in addition to the sticking effect, contributes to electric charge storing via the redox process of catechol moieties of poly(3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine) and also the formation of a high charge-storing double layer due to the presence of poly(ethylenedioxythiophene). Cyclic voltammetry, charge/discharge measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectrometry showed that the hybrid supercapacitors based on Ni-benzidine MOF with the new electroactive binder exhibit very high specific capacitance (770 F g −1 at 1 A/g) and remarkable capacitance retention of more than 94% after 1000 cycles and 86% after 5000 cycles at high current density of 5 A g −1 .

In this study, 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (L-Dopa) was solvothermally polymerized to monodisperse microspheres 1 µ m in diameter. Polymerization was carried out in dimethylformamide containing appropriate amounts of urea and L-Dopa at 120 • C for 24 h. Synthesis of the polymer in basic aqueous solution under hydrothermal conditions or via conventional heating resulted in the formation of bulky powders including irregularly shaped particles of the polymer. The morphologies of the synthesized polymers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The microspheres synthesized by solvothermal method (with ∼ 1 µ m average diameter) were clearly observable in SEM micrographs. The thermal stability of the synthesized polymer was studied by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry techniques. It was recognized that the polymer is thermally stable at more than 200 • C. Applicability of the polymer microspheres was investigated for catalyzing the reaction of one-pot multicomponent synthesis of dihydrofurans. Several dihydrofuran derivatives were successfully synthesized using poly L-Dopa as a novel, environmentally friendly, and efficient catalyst with efficiency of more than 90%. Poly L-Dopa is easily separated by filtration from the reaction mixture. It can be used several times without decreasing the catalyzing activity after washing by suitable solvents.