Porous Polymer Cubosomes with Ordered Single Primitive Bicontinuous Architecture and Their Sodium–Iodine Batteries

Abstract

Bicontinuous porous materials, which possess 3D interconnected pore channels facilitating a smooth mass transport, have attracted much interest in the fields of energy and catalysis. However, their synthesis remains very challenging. We report a general approach, using polymer cubosomes as the template, for the controllable synthesis of bicontinuous porous polymers with an ordered single primitive (SP) cubic structure, including polypyrrole (SP-PPy), poly-m-phenylenediamine (SP-PmPD), and polydopamine (SP-PDA). Specifically, the resultant SP-PPy had a unit cell parameter of 99 nm, pore diameter of 45 nm, and specific surface area of approximately 60 m 2 •g −1 . As a proof of concept, the I 2 -adsorbed SP-PPy was employed as the cathode materials of newly emerged Na−I 2 batteries, which delivered a record-high specific capacity (235 mA•h•g −1 at 0.5 C), excellent rate capability, and cycling stability (with a low capacity decay of 0.12% per cycle within 400 cycles at 1 C). The advantageous contributions of the bicontinuous structure and I 3 − adsorption mechanism of SP-PPy were revealed by a combination of ion diffusion experiments and theoretical calculations. This study opens a new avenue for the synthesis of porous polymers with new topologies, broadens the spectrum of bicontinuous-structured materials, and also develops a novel potential application for porous polymers.

Efficient Charge Storage in Zinc–Iodine Batteries based on Pre‐Embedded Iodine‐Ions with Reduced Electrochemical Reaction Barrier and Suppression of Polyiodide Self‐Shuttle Effect

“…The excellent rate capability is also far superior to other PBA/I 2 //Zn batteries [ 24,40 ] and I 2 //metal batteries, including I 2 //Zn, Al, and K/Na batteries. [ 41–45 ] In addition, PBI//Zn batteries exhibit a smaller voltage polarization at higher magnifications, confirming that the redox kinetics of PBI//Zn batteries are faster than PB//Zn batteries. In order to assess the mechanism of enhanced electrochemical performance due to pre‐embedded iodide ions, the electrochemical kinetics of PBI and PB electrodes in 1 M ZSPI electrolyte are studied using EIS.…”

Physicochemical Confinement Effect Enables High-Performing Zinc–Iodine Batteries

“…Rechargeable metal–iodine batteries are expected to be alternative energy storage systems due to their relatively high theoretical specific capacity, high abundance, low cost, and good redox reversibility of iodine. , Especially, Zn–I 2 batteries (ZIBs) show obvious superiority owing to the fast redox chemistry between metallic Zn and iodine in mild aqueous electrolytes and the immanent safety. − Nevertheless, several drawbacks hinder the real performance and cycling span of ZIBs due to the inherent poor electrical conductivity of iodine and the self-discharging effect of polyiodide with the high solubility in an aqueous electrolyte. To circumvent these problems, porous carbon-based materials (such as carbon fibers, − activated carbon, carbon nanotubes) are regarded as effective conductive hosts to confine iodine species via the physical adsorption and enhance the electrical conductivity of iodine.…”

Scrutinizing Synergy and Active Site of Nitrogen and Selenium Dual-Doped Porous Carbon for Efficient Triiodide Reduction

“…The iodide/triiodide (I – /I 3 – ) redox couple featuring low cost, high solubility, robust safety, and good electrochemical reversibility is one of the most promising electrolytes in state-of-the-art energy storage and conversion technologies, including dye-sensitized solar cells, − metal–iodine batteries, − and supercapacitors. , In these energy devices, the redox reaction of I 3 – /I – has two unique functions, i.e., to bridge the anode and cathode and to transfer the internal carriers. Generally, the reduction of I 3 – to I – over noble-metal-based catalysts (e.g., Pt) at the cathode has been substantially dominated.…”