A Quinone-Based Electrode for High-Performance Rechargeable Aluminum-Ion Batteries with a Low-Cost AlCl₃/Urea Ionic Liquid Electrolyte

Abstract

Intensive energy demand urges state-of-the-art rechargeable batteries. Rechargeable aluminum-ion batteries (AIBs) are promising candidates with suitable cathode materials. Owing to high abundance of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and rich chemistry of organics (structural diversity and flexibility), small organic molecules are good choices as the electrode materials for AIB. Herein, a series of small-molecule quinone derivatives (SMQD) as cathode materials for AIB were investigated. Nonetheless, dissolution of small organic molecules into liquid electrolytes remains a fundamental challenge. To nullify the dissolution problem effectively, 1,4-benzoquinone was integrated with four bulky phthalimide groups to form 2,3,5,6-tetraphthalimido-1,4-benzoquinone (TPB) as the cathode materials and assembled to be the AI/TPB cell. As a result, the Al/TPB cell delivered capacity as high as 175 mA h/g over 250 cycles in the urea electrolyte system. Theoretical studies have also been carried out to reveal and understand the storage mechanism of the TPB electrode.

Recent Progress in Al‐, K‐, and Zn‐Ion Batteries: Experimental and Theoretical Viewpoints

“…2,3,5,6‐tetraphthalimido‐1,4‐benzoquinone when used as a cathode material for urea‐based electrolyte systems in Al batteries could deliver a capacity amounting to 175 mAh g −1 for 250 cycles. [ 55 ] Hence, it is worthwhile to conduct further research to realize Al organic batteries with these types of cathode materials and achieve performance at par with those of graphitic cathode materials.…”

Electrochemical Mechanism of Al Metal–Organic Battery Based on Phenanthrenequinone

“…Their reversible electrochemical performance was confirmed in a wide range of organic hosts like quinones, conjugated polymers, polyimides, etc. [10,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. Most of these compounds are n-type compounds, meaning that organic electroactive moieties accept electrons and become negatively charged during discharge leading to interaction with positively charged aluminium species.…”

Understanding the Oxidation and Reduction Reactions of Sulfur in Rechargeable Aluminum‐Sulfur Batteries with Deep Eutectic Solvent and Ionic Liquid Electrolytes

“…[5][6][7][8] Accordingly, a large number of studies have focused on rechargeable Al-based batteries using a metallic Al anode to couple different types of cathode materials, including metal oxides (e. g., V 2 O 5 , VO 2 , and TiO 2 ), [4,6,9,10] metal sulfides, [11][12][13] conducting polymers, [14] carbonbased materials, [5,7] LiFePO 4 , [15] and organic materials (such as phenanthrenequinone-based compounds). [16][17][18][19] Recently, earth-abundant sulfur has received significant attention as an inexpensive (90 $ ton À 1 ) cathode material with high theoretical specific capacity (1675 mAh g À 1 ). [20,21] Theoretically, coupling an Al anode with a sulfur cathode to form an AlÀ S cell provides a theoretical voltage of approximately 1.229-1.250 V, [22,23] high theoretical gravimetric energy density (1340 Wh kg À 1 ), and high volumetric energy density (2981 Wh L À 1 ).…”

“…Al‐based batteries can offer a low‐cost and highly safe option to meet the demands of various energy‐storage scenarios [5–8] . Accordingly, a large number of studies have focused on rechargeable Al‐based batteries using a metallic Al anode to couple different types of cathode materials, including metal oxides (e. g., V 2 O 5 , VO 2 , and TiO 2 ), [4,6,9,10] metal sulfides, [11–13] conducting polymers, [14] carbon‐based materials, [5,7] LiFePO 4 , [15] and organic materials (such as phenanthrenequinone‐based compounds) [16–19] …”