Hyperbranched Polyphenylene as an Electrode for Li-Ion Batteries

Polymeric electrodes have attracted considerable attention for their potential as Li-ion battery (LIB) electrodes due to their tunable structures and sustainable preparation from abundant precursors in an environmentally friendly manner. Herein, hyperbranched polyphenylene (HBP) is synthesized through Suzuki polycondensation and investigated as a potential bipolar electrode for LIBs. The advantages of the hyperbranched architecture in HBP include easy and fast transportation of ions as an electrode. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) measurement on HBP reveals a high specific surface area and porosity compared with typical linear polymers. The low conductivity in HBP is improved by preparing an HBP/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composite material. The LIB performance for the HBP/MWCNT composite anode electrode shows good cyclic stability and high specific capacity, which are caused by the branching architecture, surface area, and improved electronic conductivity from the MWCNT. This results in easy access and rapid movement of Li ions for improved charge-discharge performance. The ex situ technique using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy shows a lithium storage mechanism in the HBP electrode. This work shows extensive scope for using the hyperbranched architectural concept to explore and develop high-performing organic electrodes for future metal-ion batteries.

Automated summary

Polymeric electrodes, especially hyperbranched polyphenylene, show great potential as Li-ion battery electrodes due to their tunable structures and high specific surface area. The incorporation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes further improves electronic conductivity and overall performance, showing promising results for future metal-ion batteries.