A Recyclable and Scalable High-Capacity Organic Battery

Redox organic electrode materials (OEMs) have attracted extensive attention for batteries due to the possibility to be designed with high performance. However, the practical application of OEMs requires rigor criteria such as low cost, recyclability, scalability and high performance etc. and hence seems still far away. Here, we demonstrate an OEM for high performance aqueous organic batteries. Quantification of the charge storage confirmed the storage of protons with fast reaction kinetics, thereby enabling the high performance at high mass loading. As a result, the laminated pouch cells delivered Ampere-hour-scale capacity with excellent cycling performance. Benefited from the small molecular nature and the stable both charged and discharged states, the electrodes can be recycled at any states of charge with high yields (more than 90 %). This work provides a substantial step in the practical applications of OEMs for the future sustainable batteries.     

Quaternary nitrogen redox centers for battery materials

Rechargeable batteries using redox-active organics as the electrode material have been proposed to be a promising alternative to lessen the reliance on unrenewable resources and to broaden the chemistry of current battery technology. However, organic materials, particularly for the battery cathode, are encountered with unsatisfactory stability and relatively low redox potential compared with the inorganic counterparts. This review introduces some recent advances of redox-active organics based on quaternary nitrogen redox centers with a focus on molecular design. The challenges and possible solutions are also introduced from the perspective of cell chemistry.     

基于有机物电极的电化学能量存储与转化

由于高安全的特性,水系二次电池被认为是未来大型储能的有效解决方案之一. 然而,现有水系电池主要以含金属元素的无机化合物为电极活性材料,其在大型储能中的实际应用仍受到循环寿命、环境问题、原料成本或金属元素丰度的限制. 相较于无机电极材料,部分有机电极材料具有原料丰富、结构丰富、可持续及环境友好等优点. 此外,有机物材料分子内空间大,能够存储不同价态电荷,因此近年来被广泛关注. 本文综述了课题组近期在有机物电极方面的研究进展,内容聚焦含羰基有机物通过C=O/C-O-的可逆转化存储单价金属阳离子(Li⁺, Na⁺)、双价金属阳离子(Zn²⁺)、质子(H⁺)所涉及的电化学过程,及其在水系锂、钠离子电池、水系锌离子电池、质子电池以及分步电解水中的应用.     

Carbonyl-rich Poly(pyrene-4,5,9,10-tetraone Sulfide) as Anode Materials for High-Performance Li and Na-Ion Batteries

Organic carbonyl electrode materials are widely employed for alkali metal-ion secondary batteries in terms of their sustainability, structure designability and abundant resources. As a typical redox-active organic electrode materials, pyrene-4, 5, 9, 10-tetraone (PT) shows high theoretical capacity due to the rich carbonyl active sites. But its electrochemical behavior in secondary batteries still needs further exploration. Herein, PT-based linear polymers (PPTS) is synthesized with thioether bond as bridging group and then employed as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). As expected, PPTS shows improved conductivity and insolubility in the non-aqueous electrolyte. When used as an anode material for LIBs, PPTS delivers a high reversible specific capacity of 697.1 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 A g⁻¹ and good rate performance (335.4 mAh g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹). Moreover, a reversible specific capacity of 205.2 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.05 A g⁻¹ could be obtained as an anode material for SIBs.     

Organic Materials as Electrodes in Potassium-Ion Batteries

The integrated advantages of organic electrode materials and potassium metal make the organic potassium-ion batteries (OPIBs) promising secondary batteries. This review summarizes the latest research progress on OPIBs according to the different types of electrode materials (namely, organic small molecules compounds, polymers, and frameworks (metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs)). Additionally, the research prospects and outlook for OPIBs are also provided.     

Electrochemistry of Electrode Materials Containing S−Se Bonds for Rechargeable Batteries

Sulfur (S) and selenium (Se) have been considered as promising high capacity cathode materials for rechargeable batteries. They have differences in their physical properties (e.g., electronic conductivity) but the same number of electrons in their outermost shells, which leads to similarity in their electrochemical behavior in batteries. In recent years, some efforts have been taken to combine them in electrodes in the hope of improved battery performance. The S−Se bonds of these electrode materials lead to unusual properties and intriguing electrochemical behavior, which have attracted increasing interest. In this Minireview, electrode materials containing S−Se bonds are summarized, including inorganic S_xSe_y solid solutions, organic compounds, and organic–inorganic hybrid materials. Our understanding in these materials is still premature, but they have shown unique properties to be electrode materials. We hope this Minireview could provide a new insight into the design, synthesis, and understanding of these materials, which could enable high energy density rechargeable batteries.     

Redox flow batteries for energy storage: Recent advances in using organic active materials

The development of redox electrolytes using organic active materials as alternatives to metal-based species for redox flow batteries is booming recently. However, challenges and gaps remain toward commercialization. This review briefly discusses the most recent advances of using electroactive organic materials. Strategies such as chemical modification through molecular engineering and new efforts toward energy-rich electrolytes and high-power electrolytes are addressed. Furthermore, the limiting factors governing the cycling life are summarized.     

An Insoluble Benzoquinone‐Based Organic Cathode for Use in Rechargeable Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Application of organic electrode materials in rechargeable batteries has attracted great interest because such materials contain abundant carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen elements. However, organic electrodes are highly soluble in organic electrolytes. An organic electrode of 2,3,5,6‐tetraphthalimido‐1,4‐benzoquinone (TPB) is reported in which rigid groups coordinate to a molecular benzoquinone skeleton. The material is insoluble in aprotic electrolyte, and demonstrates a high capacity retention of 91.4 % (204 mA h g⁻¹) over 100 cycles at 0.2 C. The extended π‐conjugation of the material contributes to enhancement of the electrochemical performance (155 mA h g⁻¹ at 10 C). Moreover, density functional theory calculations suggest that favorable synergistic reactions between multiple carbonyl groups and lithium ions can enhance the initial lithium ion intercalation potential. The described approach may provide a novel entry to next‐generation organic electrode materials with relevance to lithium‐ion batteries.     

Switching between Local and Global Aromaticity in a Conjugated Macrocycle for High-Performance Organic Sodium-Ion Battery Anodes

Aromatic organic compounds can be used as electrode materials in rechargeable batteries and are expected to advance the development of both anode and cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, most aromatic organic compounds assessed as anode materials in SIBs to date exhibit significant degradation issues under fast-charge/discharge conditions and unsatisfying long-term cycling performance. Now, a molecular design concept is presented for improving the stability of organic compounds for battery electrodes. The molecular design of the investigated compound, [2.2.2.2]paracyclophane-1,9,17,25-tetraene (PCT), can stabilize the neutral state by local aromaticity and the doubly reduced state by global aromaticity, resulting in an anode material with extraordinarily stable cycling performance and outstanding performance under fast-charge/discharge conditions, demonstrating an exciting new path for the development of electrode materials for SIBs and other types of batteries.     

Switching between Local and Global Aromaticity in a Conjugated Macrocycle for High‐Performance Organic Sodium‐Ion Battery Anodes

Aromatic organic compounds can be used as electrode materials in rechargeable batteries and are expected to advance the development of both anode and cathode materials for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). However, most aromatic organic compounds assessed as anode materials in SIBs to date exhibit significant degradation issues under fast‐charge/discharge conditions and unsatisfying long‐term cycling performance. Now, a molecular design concept is presented for improving the stability of organic compounds for battery electrodes. The molecular design of the investigated compound, [2.2.2.2]paracyclophane‐1,9,17,25‐tetraene (PCT), can stabilize the neutral state by local aromaticity and the doubly reduced state by global aromaticity, resulting in an anode material with extraordinarily stable cycling performance and outstanding performance under fast‐charge/discharge conditions, demonstrating an exciting new path for the development of electrode materials for SIBs and other types of batteries.     

Progress of Organic Electrodes in Aqueous Electrolyte for Energy Storage and Conversion

Aqueous batteries using inorganic compounds as electrode materials are considered a promising solution for grid-scale energy storage, while wide application is limited by the short life and/or high cost of electrodes. Organics with carbonyl groups are being investigated as the alternative to inorganic electrode materials because they offer the advantages of tunable structures, renewability, and they are environmentally benign. Furthermore, the wide internal space of such organic materials enables flexible storage of various charged ions (for example, H⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Zn²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺, and so on). We offer a comprehensive overview of the progress of organics containing carbonyls for energy storage and conversion in aqueous electrolytes, including applications in aqueous batteries as solid-state electrodes, in flow batteries as soluble redox species, and in water electrolysis as redox buffer electrodes. The advantages of organic electrodes are summarized, with a discussion of the challenges remaining for their practical application.     

In Situ Electropolymerization Enables Ultrafast Long Cycle Life and High-Voltage Organic Cathodes for Lithium Batteries

Organic cathode materials have attracted extensive attention because of their diverse structures, facile synthesis, and environmental friendliness. However, they often suffer from insufficient cycling stability caused by the dissolution problem, poor rate performance, and low voltages. An in situ electropolymerization method was developed to stabilize and enhance organic cathodes for lithium batteries. 4,4′,4′′-Tris(carbazol-9-yl)-triphenylamine (TCTA) was employed because carbazole groups can be polymerized under an electric field and they may serve as high-voltage redox-active centers. The electropolymerized TCTA electrodes demonstrated excellent electrochemical performance with a high discharge voltage of 3.95 V, ultrafast rate capability of 20 A g⁻¹, and a long cycle life of 5000 cycles. Our findings provide a new strategy to address the dissolution issue and they explore the molecular design of organic electrode materials for use in rechargeable batteries.     

可充锂电池醌类化合物电极材料

醌类化合物电极材料具有理论比容量高、结构可设计、成本低廉和绿色可持续等优点,被认为是可充锂电池理想的电极材料。本文介绍了醌类化合物电极材料的分类及其结构特点、电化学工作原理及其电化学性能,对醌类化合物的发展、面临的问题等方面进行了概括,探讨了提高该类电极材料电化学性能的方法,并对醌类化合物电极材料的发展方向进行了展望。     

Organic Positive Materials for Magnesium Batteries: A Review

Magnesium batteries, like lithium-ion batteries, with higher abundance and similar efficiency, have drawn great interest for large-scale applications such as electric vehicles, grid energy storage and many more. On the other hand, the use of organic electrode materials allows high energy-performance, metal-free, environmentally friendly, versatile, lightweight, and economically efficient magnesium storage devices. In particular, the structural diversity and the simple activity of organic molecules make redox properties, and hence battery efficiency, easy to monitor. While organic magnesium batteries still in their infancy, this field becomes more and more promising because significant results were reported. To summarize the achievements in studies on organic cathodes for magnesium systems, their synthesis is discussed, combined with electrode design to provide the basis for controlling the electrochemical properties. Moreover, the techniques to synthesize organic materials with high-yield are mentioned. Finally, potential problems and prospects are explored to further improve organic cathodes.     

In Situ Electropolymerization Enables Ultrafast Long Cycle Life and High‐Voltage Organic Cathodes for Lithium Batteries

Organic cathode materials have attracted extensive attention because of their diverse structures, facile synthesis, and environmental friendliness. However, they often suffer from insufficient cycling stability caused by the dissolution problem, poor rate performance, and low voltages. An in situ electropolymerization method was developed to stabilize and enhance organic cathodes for lithium batteries. 4,4′,4′′‐Tris(carbazol‐9‐yl)‐triphenylamine (TCTA) was employed because carbazole groups can be polymerized under an electric field and they may serve as high‐voltage redox‐active centers. The electropolymerized TCTA electrodes demonstrated excellent electrochemical performance with a high discharge voltage of 3.95 V, ultrafast rate capability of 20 A g^?1, and a long cycle life of 5000 cycles. Our findings provide a new strategy to address the dissolution issue and they explore the molecular design of organic electrode materials for use in rechargeable batteries.     

钠离子电池微/纳结构电极材料研究

钠离子电池电极材料资源丰富,价格低廉. 然而,现阶段钠离子电池电极材料的性能还不理想,开发合适的电极材料是实现髙容量、长循环寿命钠离子电池的关键. 本文将以作者近期的研究工作为主,着重讨论几种微/纳米材料作为钠离子电池电极的性能及作用机理,并展望其今后的发展趋势.     

2020 roadmap on two-dimensional materials for energy storage and conversion

In this roadmap, two-dimensional materials including graphene, black phosporus, MXenes, covalent organic frameworks, oxides, chalcogenides, and others, are highlighted in energy storage and conversion.     

2020 roadmap on two-dimensional materials for energy storage and conversion

Energy storage and conversion have attained significant interest owing to its important applications that reduce CO₂ emission through employing green energy. Some promising technologies are included metal-air batteries, metal-sulfur batteries, metal-ion batteries, electrochemical capacitors, etc. Here, metal elements are involved with lithium, sodium, and magnesium. For these devices, electrode materials are of importance to obtain high performance. Two-dimensional (2D) materials are a large kind of layered structured materials with promising future as energy storage materials, which include graphene, black phosporus, MXenes, covalent organic frameworks (COFs), 2D oxides, 2D chalcogenides, and others. Great progress has been achieved to go ahead for 2D materials in energy storage and conversion. More researchers will join in this research field. Under the background, it has motivated us to contribute with a roadmap on ‘two-dimensional materials for energy storage and conversion.     

有机电极材料过渡态的研究进展

有机电极材料具有理论比容量大、结构可设计性强、加工使用过程环境友好等优点被广泛应用于二次电池的研究中.有机电极材料在氧化还原过程会产生具有不成对电子的自由基中间体,自由基中间体的稳定程度影响电极材料的电化学性能.通过改变材料的结构可以调控自由基中间体的稳定性,从而优化有机电极材料的电化学性能.本文对有机电极材料在电化学...     

锂硫电池硫碳复合正极材料研究现状及展望

二次锂硫电池被视为最具有发展潜力的下一代高能量密度二次电池之一. 但由于正极硫的电导率低（5×10^-30 S·cm^-1）,且在放电过程中产生的中间体多硫化物易溶于有机电解液,致使锂硫电池活性物质利用率降低,溶解后的多硫化物还会迁移到负极,被还原成不溶物Li2S2/Li2S而沉积于负极锂,使电极结构遭受破坏,造成电池容量大幅衰减,循环性能差,从而限制了进一步的开发应用. 研究表明,以碳作为导电骨架的硫碳复合正极材料能在不同程度上解决上述问题,从而有效提高了锂硫电池的放电容量和循环性能. 本文综述了近年来国内外报道的各种锂硫电池正极材料的研究进展,结合作者课题组的研究,重点探讨了硫碳复合正极材料,并对其今后的发展趋势进行了展望.