Advances in polymer electrode materials for alkali metals (lithium, sodium and potassium)-ion rechargeable batteries

Organic polymer materials gain much attentions due to its high nature abundance, tuneable property with respect to functional groups, easy processing, low-cost alternate to their inorganic counter-part. The conversion of one functional group to others, building cyclic skeleton, synthesis of various heterocycles, protection of one sensitive functional group during the conversion of another one in a substituted molecule, low temperature and high pressure reactions, etc. are the part of synthetic chemistry. Especially, care is needed to synthesis electrochemically active compounds for energy storage applications. Almost, all secondary batteries decorated with the organic polymer materials as part/full of the electrodes design. This review summarizes the synthesis of electrochemically active organic redox polymers such as carbonyl, organosulfur, conducting polymers and its application in various alkali metal-ion rechargeable batteries as electrode components.