Publisher: College of Chemistry and Materials Science  

Date: December 31, 2024

Bin Deshan and Li Dan from the College of Chemistry and Materials Science at Jinan University have made significant strides in developing metal battery cathode materials that do not rely on scarce resources such as cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni). Their research, which addresses the demand for high-sustainability and cost-effective electrochemical energy storage solutions, has garnered attention from researchers both nationally and internationally.

The team's latest findings on resource-rich, copper-based and sulfur-based cathode materials have been published in the prestigious journals Angewandte Chemie International Edition (impact factor: 16.6) and Journal of the American Chemical Society (impact factor: 14.5). 

Key Research Highlights:

1. Copper-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks (Cu-MOFs): The first study introduces a one-dimensional Cu-MOF (DDA?Cu, where DDA stands for 1,5-Diamino-4,8-dihydroxy-9,10-anthraceneedione) that features an extended π-d conjugated coordination ribbon. This innovative structure is characterized by high-density redox-active centers, resulting in a stable and high-capacity cathode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Notable performance metrics include a capacity of 353 mAh/g at a current density of 0.05 A/g and a remarkable capacity retention of 78% after 1000 cycles.

2. Organosulfur Polymer Microcages for Na-S and K-S Batteries: The second study reports the development of a conductive organosulfur polymer microcage, created using microbes and elemental sulfur. This material effectively mitigates challenges associated with polysulfide shuttling and volumetric changes during battery operation. As a cathode for K-S batteries, this novel microcage demonstrates a capacity of 1206.5 mAh/g and exceptional cyclability, achieving over 99% capacity retention after 1100 cycles.

These groundbreaking findings not only enhance the understanding of cathode materials in battery technology but also propose a simple approach to fabricating high-performance, sustainable energy storage solutions. Both research papers are available at (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202421008) and

(https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.4c11845). 

Co-first authors Zeng Xian, a 2024 master's graduate, and Yi Zijian, a master's student in 2022, have contributed significantly to this promising research.