Polymer–Graphene Nanocomposites as Ultrafast-Charge and -Discharge Cathodes for Rechargeable Lithium Batteries

Abstract

Electroactive polymers are a new generation of "green" cathode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries. We have developed nanocomposites combining graphene with two promising polymer cathode materials, poly(anthraquinonyl sulfide) and polyimide, to improve their high-rate performance. The polymer-graphene nanocomposites were synthesized through a simple in situ polymerization in the presence of graphene sheets. The highly dispersed graphene sheets in the nanocomposite drastically enhanced the electronic conductivity and allowed the electrochemical activity of the polymer cathode to be efficiently utilized. This allows for ultrafast charging and discharging; the composite can deliver more than 100 mAh/g within just a few seconds.

Biologically inspired pteridine redox centres for rechargeable batteries

“…In addition, the ALX hybrid electrodes retained 93 and 91% of their initial capacity at 5.0 and 10.0 A g À 1 , respectively. To the best of our knowledge, the capacity retention of 96% up to 500 cycles at 10.0 A g À 1 is the best and the longest cycling performance among the organic molecule-based cathode materials reported thus far 11,15,16,36 .…”

High-capacity pseudocapacitive Li storage on functional nanoporous carbons with parallel mesopores

“…rich in oxygen functional groups have been tested as cathodes with high capacity, long-term stability and good rate performance for Li/Na-ion storage [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. Alternatively Li-storage cathodes can be achieved via surface decorations of carbons with quinone-containing electroactive polymers [24,25]. Most of these studies are on graphitic nanocarbons, like graphene or carbon nanotubes.…”

Recent Advances in the Use of Carbonyl Compounds as Active Components in Organic-Based Batteries

“…Also, charge/discharge cycling of the battery is dependent on several factors, some of which includes; solubility of the active materials in solution resulting to decrease in capacity, side reactions and/or instabilities of anions formed, structural modification during the charge/discharge leading to capacity loss on cycling. Finally, low conductivity of organic materials is also a limiting factor and this should be addressed by using conductive additive materials such as carbon nanotubes [44] and graphene [45,46] in order to improve electron transport within the electrode.…”