Increasing Redox Potential of Pyromellitic Diimide by Chemical Modifications: Toward High-Voltage Organic Positive Electrode for Lithium Battery

Abstract

Lithium batteries are considered as the most promising electricity storage solution to support the energy transition but still suffer for cost and sustainable issues related to the use of transition metal-based electrode materials. Due to their reduced environmental footprint and low cost, organic active materials such as carbonyl family (quinone, anhydride, diimide) are some interesting candidates to replace them but electrochemical performances in particular redox potential have to be increased in order to become a viable alternative. Here benefiting from tunability of organic structure and guided by rational design rules based on Hammett theory, new strategies are proposed to increase the redox potential of molecular diimide by introducing electron-withdrawing groups such as bromine, cyano, or nitro groups. This work can be considered as a first step to develop some competitive positive electrodes materials based on organic molecules or polymers using diimide derivatives.