Dialkoxybenzoquinone-type active materials for rechargeable lithium batteries: the effect of the alkoxy group length on the cycle-stability

The performance of 2,5-di-n-decyloxy-1,4-benzoquinone (DDBQ) as an active material for rechargeable lithium batteries was investigated. The prepared electrode in which DDBQ was incorporated showed an initial discharge capacity of 125 mAh/g(DDBQ) with an average voltage of 2.5 V vs. Li+/Li. The obtained discharge capacity corresponds to a benzoquinone-based two-electron redox behavior. In the cycle-life test, the prepared DDBQ-electrode showed a relatively good performance; it maintained about 60% of the initial capacity after 20 cycles. The observed cycle-stability was compared to those of the other dialkoxybenzoquinones bearing shorter alkoxy chains, such as the methoxy, ethoxy, and propoxy groups. The correlation between the cycle-stability and the solubility in the electrolyte solvent was discussed. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.