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Limiting battery performance parameters for polyacetylene

Abstract

The discovery that polyacetylene, [CH]x could be reversibly electrochemically oxidized or reduced (‘doped’)1 has led to its usage as an electrode in light-weight rechargeable storage batteries2,3. Using a 100-µm thick electrode comprised of 20–30 nm diameter fibrils4, performance characteristics slightly superior to those of the lead-acid battery have been achieved. Our cyclic voltammetry study utilizing ultrathin (<0.1 µm) films of [CH]x comprised of 2–3 nm microfibrils shows significantly improved electrode properties. A current density of 2.4 MA kg−1, power density of 8 MW kg−1, average potential of 3.5 V, maximum energy density of 250 W h kg−1 and coulombic efficiency >95% have been obtained with a Li/salt/[CH]x system. The potential of polyacetylene electrodes for light-weight rechargeable batteries is, therefore, several orders of magnitude higher than presently recognized.

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Chien, J., Schlenoff, J. Limiting battery performance parameters for polyacetylene. Nature 311, 362–363 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/311362a0

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