Graphite-like structured conductive polymer anodes for high-capacity lithium storage with optimized voltage platform

Graphite is a widely used anode material in commercial lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), but its low theoretical specific capacity and extremely low redox potential limit its application in high-performance lithium-ion batteries. However, developing lithium-ion battery anode with high specific capacity and suitable working potential is still challenging. At present, conductive polymers with excellent properties and graphite-like structures are widely used in the field of electrochemistry, but their Li+ storage mechanism and kinetics are still unclear and need to be further investigated. Therefore, we synthesized the conducting polymer Fe3(2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11-hexahydroxytriphenylene)2 (Fe-CAT) by the liquid phase method, in which the d-π conjugated structure and pores facilitate electron transfer and electrolyte infiltration, improving the comprehensive electrochemical performance. The Fe-CAT electrode displays a high capacity of 950 mA h g−1 at 200 mA g−1. At the current density of 5.0 A g−1, the electrode shows a reversible capacity of 322 mA h g−1 after 1000 cycles. The average lithiation voltage plateau is ∼ 0.79 V. The combination of ex-situ characterization techniques and electrochemical kinetic analysis reveals the source of the excellent electrochemical performance of Fe-CAT. During the charging/discharging process, the aromatic ring in the organic ligand is involved in the redox reaction. Such results will provide new insights for the design of next-generation high-performance electrode materials for LIBs.