An Aqueous, Electrolyte-Type, Rechargeable Device Utilizing a Hydrophilic Radical Polymer-Cathode

A hydrophilic poly(vinyl ether)-backbone polymer bearing a pendant TEMPO radical, poly(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxy-4-yl vinyl ether) (PTVE), was designed as a cathode-active material, which displays a reversible one-electron redox capability, even in an aqueous electrolyte. The PTVE layer coated on a current collector demonstrated a rapid charging-discharging rate based on the combination of the redox-active nitroxide radicals built into the hydrophilic polymer and the aqueous electrolyte that possessed a high electrical conductivity. A test cell fabricated with a PTVE cathode, a zinc anode, and an aqueous electrolyte gave an output voltage of 1.7 V and showed the ability to be recharged more than 500 times rechargeability.