A quinone-based cathode material for high-performance organic lithium and sodium batteries

Wilkinson, D., Bhosale, M., Amores, M., Naresh, G., Cussen, S. A. and Cooke, G. (2021) A quinone-based cathode material for high-performance organic lithium and sodium batteries. ACS Applied Energy Materials, 4(11), pp. 12084-12090. (doi: 10.1021/acsaem.1c01339)

Abstract

With the increased application of batteries in powering electric vehicles as well as potential contributions to utility-scale storage, there remains a need to identify and develop efficient and sustainable active materials for use in lithium (Li)- and sodium (Na)-ion batteries. Organic cathode materials provide a desirable alternative to inorganic counterparts, which often come with harmful environmental impact and supply chain uncertainties. Organic materials afford a sustainable route to active electrodes that also enable fine-tuning of electrochemical potentials through structural design. Here, we report a bis-anthraquinone-functionalized s-indacene-1,3,5,7(2H,6H)-tetraone (BAQIT) synthesized using a facile and inexpensive route as a high-capacity cathode material for use in Li- and Na-ion batteries. BAQIT provides multiple binding sites for Li- and Na-ions, while maintaining low solubility in commercial organic electrolytes. Electrochemical Li-ion cells demonstrate excellent stability with discharge capacities above 190 mAh g–1 after 300 cycles at a 0.1C rate. The material also displayed excellent high-rate performance with a reversible capacity of 142 mAh g–1 achieved at a 10C rate. This material affords high power capabilities superior to current state-of-the-art organic cathode materials, with values reaching 5.09 kW kg–1. The Na-ion performance was also evaluated, exhibiting reversible capacities of 130 mAh g–1 after 90 cycles at a 0.1C rate. This work offers a structural design to encourage versatile, high-power, and long cycle-life electrochemical energy-storage materials.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Cooke, Professor Graeme and Amores Segura, Mr Marco and Wilkinson, Dr Dylan
• Authors: Wilkinson, D., Bhosale, M., Amores, M., Naresh, G., Cussen, S. A., and Cooke, G.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
• Journal Name: ACS Applied Energy Materials
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• ISSN: 2574-0962
• ISSN (Online): 2574-0962
• Published Online: 17 October 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Authors
• First Published: First published in ACS Applied Energy Materials 4(11): 12084-12090
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
173075		(Iso)alloxazine incorporating electrodes as high-performance organic energy storage materials	Graeme Cooke	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)	EP/P00315X/1	Chemistry