Date of Award
Spring 5-7-2022
Document Type
Honors Thesis
Department/Major
Chemistry
First Advisor
Dr. Haoran Sun
Second Advisor
Dr. James Hoefelmeyer
Third Advisor
Dr. Miles Koppang
Keywords
Lithium-ion batteries, electrochemistry, conducting polymers, nitro groups, cyclic voltammetry
Subject Categories
Analytical Chemistry | Computational Chemistry | Organic Chemistry | Polymer Chemistry
Abstract
The development of organic electrode materials in rechargeable batteries has seen a resurgence in recent decades. This spike in interest is mostly due to the increased investments in renewable energy sources, grid-scale energy storage, and the rapid transition to electric vehicles. Current lithium battery cathode materials typically use some form of lithium metal oxide (specific capacity: 272 mAh g-1 which has problems with limited capacity, thermal runaway, and an unreliable supply chain. Our research group’s solution involves investigating new lightweight, organic redox groups combined with a conductive polymer backbone to serve as a possible replacement for the cathode in lithium-ion batteries. Our polymer materials would utilize the reversible redox couple between the phenylhydroxylamine and nitroso functional groups. These materials have theoretical capacities calculated at 459.6 and 433.5 mAh g-1. While our polymers successfully underwent oxidative polymerization, the process is unrefined and reaction conditions need to be optimized. To help remedy this poor polymerization we introduced a potential pulse in hopes of inducing a morphology change in the polymer structure. This project explores the field of lightweight, organic materials for battery cathodes where it has the potential to dramatically increase the energy density of lithium-ion batteries.
Recommended Citation
Samuelson, Brady P., "Nitro-Aromatic Polymers for Conversion-Style Battery Cathodic Materials" (2022). Honors Thesis. 249.
https://red.library.usd.edu/honors-thesis/249
Included in
Analytical Chemistry Commons, Computational Chemistry Commons, Organic Chemistry Commons, Polymer Chemistry Commons