Aromatic Polyimide/Graphene Composite Organic Cathodes for Fast and Sustainable Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Abstract

A composite organic cathode material based on aromatic polyimide (PI) and highly conductive graphene was prepared through a facile in situ polymerization method for application in lithium-ion batteries. The in situ polymerization generated intimate contact between PI and electronically conductive graphene, resulting in conductive composites with highly reversible redox reactions and good structure stability. The synergistic effect between PI and graphene enabled not only a high reversible capacity of 232.6 mAh g at a charge-discharge rate of C/10 but also exceptionally high-rate cycling stability, that is, a high capacity of 108.9 mAh g at a very high charge-discharge rate of 50C with a capacity retention of 80 % after 1000 cycles. This improved electrochemical performance resulted from the combination of stable redox reversibility of PI and high electronic conductivity of the graphene additive. The graphene-based composite also exhibited much better performance than composites based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes and the conductive carbon black C45 in terms of specific capacity and long-term cycling stability under the same charge-discharge rates.

Molecular Design Strategies for Electrochemical Behavior of Aromatic Carbonyl Compounds in Organic and Aqueous Electrolytes

“…[113] CNT and graphene were used as carriers, and polyimide was used as an active material. Small molecule carbon materials such as carbon black, SP, and KB can form dense networks, reduce pores, and increase the specific surface area for the reaction.…”

High‐Lithium‐Affinity Chemically Exfoliated 2D Covalent Organic Frameworks

“…One strategy is to prepare the composite material by combining the organic material with carbon matrix (carbon nanotubes, graphene materials, etc. ), which can effectively improve the electronic conductivity and cycle life . Another strategy is to design novel active organic frameworks with carefully crafted electronic structure and reversible multielectron redox capability …”

Cross‐Conjugated Polycatechol Organic Cathode for Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Storage

“…These results demonstrate that PC has commendable thermal stability caused by the polymerization of catechol through the FeCl 3 initiator . Moreover, the mass losses of all the PC/G samples are lower than that of PC, which is attributed to the excellent thermal stability of graphene . Figure b shows the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of the PC/G composites, pristine PC, and graphene.…”

“…Figure a reveals the CV curves of the graphene, PC, and PC/G samples. It is found that the electrochemically active area among the CV curves is largest for the PC/G‐2 sample, indicating a better zinc‐ion storage behavior of the PC/G‐2 cathode . Figure b illustrates the rate capacities of the PC/G composite cathodes and graphene.…”