Application of Poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) as a Protective Coating for High Rate Cathode Materials

Abstract

Poly­(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT), a conducting polymer studied extensively for its optoelectronic devices, offers a number of advantageous properties when used as a conductive binder for lithium-ion battery cathode materials. By mixing with carbon nanotubes (CNT), P3HT-CNT serves as a surface coating for the cathode material LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 (NCA). Oxidation of the P3HT enables high electronic and ionic conductivity to be achieved over the potential range where the NCA is electrochemically active. In addition to the conductivity benefits from electrochemical doping, the P3HT-CNT coating suppresses electrolyte breakdown, thus inhibiting growth of the solid electrolyte interphase layer and preventing intergranular cracking in the NCA particles. The use of the P3HT-CNT binder system leads to improved cycling for NCA at high power density with capacities of 80 mAh g–1 obtained after 1000 cycles at 16 C, a value that is 4 times greater than that achieved in the control electrode.

Nanostructured Functional Hydrogels as an Emerging Platform for Advanced Energy Technologies

“…As a result, this composite electrode (C–PPy/Fe 3 O 4 ) exhibits a higher discharging specific capacity of 1100 mAh g −1 than Fe 3 O 4 with a conventional PVDF binder, which shows only 300 mAh g −1 after 50 cycles (Figure c). The concept of nanostructured functional hydrogel was further extended to cathodes of LIBs . A 3D nanostructured hybrid inorganic‐gel framework electrode was prepared by in situ polymerization of conductive polymer gel onto commercial lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO 4 (LFP)) particles .…”

Li+ and Oxidant Addition To Control Ionic and Electronic Conduction in Ionic Liquid-Functionalized Conjugated Polymers

“…1,2,53 Mixed conducting conjugated materials are commonly employed as protective coatings and binders for cathode materials in batteries due to their easy processability and facile ion and electron transport in the presence of liquid electrolyte. 18,[54][55][56][57][58] Increasing interest in solventfree battery construction, however, has created a demand for materials that can conduct both ions and electrons without the presence of solvent. 18,19,56,57 Conjugated polymers with ionic liquid-like side chains, in which an ionic liquid group is covalently tethered to the polymer backbone, have considerable promise in the field of solvent-free mixed conduction.…”

Ultrahigh Adsorption Capacity and Kinetics of Vertically Oriented Mesoporous Coatings for Removal of Organic Pollutants

“…Surface coatings are of broad interest for practical applications in areas such as self‐cleaning, chemical shielding, heat transfer, separations, adsorbing, and fog harvesting. [ 21–28 ] Many efforts have been done to develop mesoporous coatings (MCs) for water treatment because they combine the merits of rigid substrate (e.g., easy operation, no secondary contamination, reusability) and mesoporous materials (e.g., large pore size, high surface area, and large pore volume). [ 28–31 ] However, most of previously developed MCs generally have prevailing 2D channels parallel to substrates and/or 3D interpenetrated ones, which greatly prevent the diffusion of organic molecules into the internal surfaces.…”