p-Dopable poly(4-cyano)triphenylamine: A high voltage organic cathode for lithium ion batteries

In this work, p-dopable poly(4-cyano)triphenylamine is prepared simply by grafting electron-withdrawing cyano group onto triphenylamine chains through a chemical oxidative polymerization. The electrochemical tests show that the organic cathode has a high average discharge voltage of 3.9 V (vs. Li+/Li), and delivers a reversible capacity of similar to 80 mAh g(-1) with stable cycling, also a capacity of 55 mAh g(-1) is retained even cycled at a high current density of 400 mA g(-1).The superior electrochemical performances of this organic cathode may enable it to be an alternative cathode material for future green and sustainable organic-based batteries. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.