Highly durable organic electrode for sodium-ion batteries via a stabilized α-C radical intermediate

• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13318
• Publication Date: 2016-11-07T11:10:24Z
• Authors: Shaofei Wu; Wenxi Wang; Minchan Li; Lujie Cao; Fucong Lyu; Mingyang Yang; Zhenyu Wang; Yang Shi; Bo Nan; Sicen Yu; Zhifang Sun; Yao Liu; Zhouguang Lu
• Keywords: Unpaired electron; Radical ion; Reactivity

Abstract It is a challenge to prepare organic electrodes for sodium-ion batteries with long cycle life and high capacity. The highly reactive radical intermediates generated during the sodiation/desodiation process could be critical issue because of undesired side reactions. Here we present durable stabilized α-C intermediate. Through resonance effect as well steric effects, excessive reactivity unpaired electron successfully suppressed, thus developing an electrode stable cycling over 2,000 cycles 96.8% capacity retention. In addition, α-radical demonstrates reversible transformation between three states: C=C; α-C·radical; − anion. Such provides additional Na + storage equal more than 0.83 insertion per electrodes. strategy intermediate stabilization enlightening in design enhanced energy capability.