A book-like organic based electrode with high areal capacity for high performance flexible lithium/sodium-ion batteries

A team of researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai University, and the University of Technology Sydney has developed a groundbreaking organic-based electrode that significantly enhances the areal capacity and flexibility of lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries. This new electrode, described as “book-like,” marks a major advancement in the field of flexible electronics, particularly for wearable devices.

 

The novel electrode design overcomes the limitations of traditional single-layer batteries, which often struggle to balance flexibility with high areal capacity. By stacking multiple monolayer electrodes into a book-like structure, the researchers achieved an unprecedented areal capacity of 5.88 mAh/cm² for lithium-ion batteries and 5.24 mAh/cm² for sodium-ion batteries. This is a substantial improvement compared to conventional designs.

The key to this success lies in the combination of 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI), a common organic cathode material, with highly conductive carbon nanotubes. This combination not only enhances electronic and ionic mobility but also provides excellent flexibility, essential for powering wearable electronics that need to conform to various body movements.

In rigorous testing, the book-like electrode demonstrated remarkable durability, maintaining its structural integrity and capacity even when bent at various angles. This flexibility, coupled with its high areal capacity, positions the electrode as a promising candidate for next-generation flexible batteries.

The research, published in the journal Chemical Communications, was supported by the Australian Research Council and represents a significant step forward in the development of sustainable and efficient power sources for flexible electronic devices. The study’s findings could pave the way for more advanced applications in wearable technology, where flexibility and power density are crucial.

This innovation not only addresses current limitations in flexible battery design but also sets the stage for further advancements in organic-based materials for energy storage, potentially extending to other types of batteries beyond lithium and sodium ions.

Reference:

Huang, T., Gao, H., Chen, J., Liu, H., Wu, D., & Wang, G. (2022). A book-like organic-based electrode with high areal capacity for high-performance flexible lithium/sodium-ion batteries. Chemical Communications. DOI: 10.1039/d2cc03297j