Work

Helical Poly(isocyanide anthraquinones)‐Based Cathodes for Long‐Cycling Lithium Metal Batteries

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Thanks to the unique rigid conformation and designable side‐chain structure, helical polymers are starting to be more widely considered as ideal electrode materials in secondary batteries. In this study, a series of helical poly(isocyanide anthraquinones) (PIC‐AQs), including PIC‐1AQn and PIC‐2AQn, were designed and synthesized via living polymerization using a palladium catalyst (Pd‐II). The polymers feature a helical polyisocyanide main chain and anthraquinone (AQ) pendants, offer high yields (approximately 90%), controlled number‐average molecular weight (Mn), and a low polymer dispersity index (PDI). Attributed to a narrow energy band gap, low unoccupied molecular orbitals, and high spatial freedom of PIC‐2AQ, it exhibits excellent long‐term stability in lithium metal batteries (LMBs), maintaining 141 mAh g−1 after 2000 cycles at 1 A g−1. Additionally, an in situ polymerized poly(ionic liquid) electrolyte was prepared for assembling a PIC‐2AQ all‐solid‐state soft‐pouch battery. And it remained stable under extreme operations like bending or cutting. Such a battery significantly broadens the application scope of organic LMBs and offers great potential for their use in flexible electronic devices.

Source: Angewandte Chemie International Edition

DOI: 10.1002/anie.202512956