Substituent-regulated alkynyl-thiophene conjugated microporous polymers for high-performance lithium-ion storage

Abstract

Pronounced substituent-dependent differences in Li-storage performance were observed for alkynyl–thiophene conjugated microporous polymers with distinct 3,4-substituents, and PTEB-EDOT delivered the highest capacity and fastest activation. Combined BET, SEM, EIS, XPS analyses and DFT calculations indicated that substituent electronic character and fused dioxy ring architecture lowered local electrostatic potential and LUMO, band gaps while enhancing backbone planarity, thereby defining Li-storage sites and accelerating charge transport.