Autonomic self-healing (SH), namely, the ability to repair damages
from mechanical stress spontaneously, is polarizing attention in the
field of new-generation electrochemical devices. This property is
highly attractive to enhance the durability of rechargeable Li-ion
batteries (LIBs) or Na-ion batteries (SIBs), where high-performing
anode active materials (silicon, phosphorus,
etc.
) are strongly affected by volume expansion and phase changes upon
ion insertion. Here, we applied a SH strategy, based on the dynamic
quadruple hydrogen bonding, to nanosized black phosphorus (BP) anodes
for Na-ion cells. The goal is to overcome drastic capacity decay and
short lifetime, resulting from mechanical damages induced by the volumetric
expansion/contraction upon sodiation/desodiation. Specifically, we
developed novel ureidopyrimidinone (UPy)-telechelic systems and related
blends with poly(ethylene oxide) as novel and green binders alternative
to the more conventional ones, such as polyacrylic acid and carboxymethylcellulose,
which are typically used in SIBs. BP anodes show impressively improved
(more than 6 times) capacity retention when employing the new SH polymeric
blend. In particular, the SH electrode still works at a current density
higher than 3.5 A g
–1
, whereas the standard BP electrode
exhibits very poor performances already at current densities lower
than 0.5 A g
–1
. This is the result of better adhesion,
buffering properties, and spontaneous damage reparation.
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