Performance optimization and fast rate capabilities of novel polymer cathode materials through balanced electronic and ionic transport

Abstract

The increasing demands for high-power electrical energy storage technologies require the development of new electrode materials and architectures with fast ion and electron transport. Herein, we report a new family of ter-polymers as battery cathode materials which exhibit significantly improved performance over their parent co-polymers: poly(phenylene-phenazine), and poly(1,3,5-phenylene-phenazine). The high electronic conductivity of poly(phenylene-phenazine) and fast ionic transport of poly(1,3,5-phenylene-phenazine) are combined in this series of ter-polymers, exhibiting improved battery performances which are especially apparent at high rates. The optimized ter-polymer delivers 180 mA h g⁻¹ when discharged at 16 A g⁻¹, demonstrating the effectiveness of balancing ionic and electronic transport properties.