Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
2023
Department
Chemistry
Abstract
This work reports a new method to synthesize polyphenylmethanimine (polyPMI) as a linear or a hyperbranched, conjugated polymer using an aldehyde-imine metathesis reaction. This work details the reaction mechanisms of this polymerization by characterizing a red-shift in its absorption spectrum as polymer conjugation length increases and verifies that this optical shift results from extended π-condensation using density functional theory. This new synthetic approach provides a polymer that can potentially be depolymerized for facile recyclability and is compatible with air- and water-sensitive chemistries. As an example of the utility of this new approach, this work demonstrates that this polymer can be directly grown on silicon nanoparticles to create silicon anodes for lithium-ion batteries with a high degree of electrochemical interfacial passivation. These silicon anodes exhibit Coulombic efficiencies above 99.9% and can accommodate silicon nanoparticle expansion and contraction during lithiation and delithiation as demonstrated by stable reversible capacities for 500 cycles. Finally, this work demonstrates that polyPMI facilitates the formation of a lithium fluoride rich solid electrolyte interphase that remains chemically and mechanically stable after long term cycling.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Advanced Energy Materials
Volume
13
Issue
13
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Martin, T. R., Rynearson, L., Kuller, M., Quinn, J., Wang, C., Lucht, B. & Neale, N. R. (2023). Conjugated Imine Polymer Synthesized via Step-Growth Metathesis for Highly Stable Silicon Nanoparticle Anodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries. Advanced Energy Materials, 13(13), 2203921. https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202203921
Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202203921
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.