Synthesis and evaluation of polythiocyanogen (SCN)x as a rechargeable lithium-ion battery electrode material

✍ Scribed by Palanichamy Krishnan; Suresh G. Advani; Ajay K. Prasad

• Book ID: 104026699
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2011
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 927 KB
• Volume: 196
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0378-7753
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2011.04.048

✦ Synopsis

Polythiocyanogen, (SCN) x , is a promising lithium-ion battery electrode material due to its high theoretical capacity (462 mAh g -1 ), safe operation, inexpensive raw materials, and a simple and less energy-intensive manufacturing process. The (SCN) x was prepared from the solution of trithiocyanate (SCN) 3

-in methylene dichloride (MDC), which was prepared by electrochemical oxidation of ammonium thiocyanate (NH 4 SCN) in a two-phase electrolysis medium of 1.0 M NH 4 SCN in 0.50 M H 2 SO 4 + MDC. The (SCN) 3 underwent auto catalytic polymerization to (SCN) x during MDC removal. Battery electrodes with (SCN) x as the active material were prepared, and tested in Swagelok cells using lithium foil as the counter and reference electrode. The cells delivered capacities in the range of 200-275 mAh g -1 at the discharge-charge rate of 0.2 C. The cells were tested up to 20 cycles and showed repeatable performance with a coulombic efficiency of 97% at the 20th cycle. The results presented here indicate that (SCN) x is a promising lithium-ion battery electrode-material candidate for further studies.