Organic and polymeric cathode materials for metal-ion storage devices: challenges, recent advances, current status, and perspectives

Abstract

Metal-ion batteries generally consist of three main components including cathode, anode, and electrolyte, which determine performance of batteries. Cathodes are one of essential components of batteries that convert electrochemical energy stored in batteries into electrical energy by facilitating the transfer of ions through the electrolyte and the transfer of electrons through the external circuit. Cathodes play a crucial role in battery performance, influencing factors such as voltage, capacity, lifespan, and charging speed. In recent years, significant research has been conducted on cathodes for metal-ion batteries, especially inorganic cathode materials. However, the use of these cathodes has been limited due to their undesirable properties, such as limited cyclability and rapid capacity fade, high cost, and high toxicity. Currently, polymer organic cathode materials (POCMs) including conductive polymers (CPs), carbonyl polymers (COPs), sulfide polymers (SPs), radical polymers (RPs), and imine polymers (IPs), have garnered attention due to their high energy density, high capacity, environmental friendliness, high voltage, and adjustable frameworks. As we continue to explore and innovate, these polymer organic cathodes hold the promise of significantly enhancing the performance of metal-ion batteries. This review discusses the properties and challenges of polymer organic cathodes for metal-ion batteries and designing strategies to enhance their performance.