A COF-like Conductive Conjugated Microporous Poly(aniline) Serving as Current Collector Modifier for High-Performance Li-S Batteries

Conducting polymers such as polyaniline have demonstrated their considerable superiorities when serving as promising sulfur host materials for Li-S batteries, owing to their strong affinity for lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and excellent conductivity. However, less polar groups, unstable frame structure and low specific surface area limited their electrochemical performance. Herein, a covalent organic framework (COF)-like conjugated microporous polyaniline (CMPA) with extended -conjugated system and permanent 3D microporosity was developed as modified material using in the current collector of sulfur cathode for highly efficient Li-S batteries. This multifunctional CMPA shows the integrated nature of conjugated microporous polymers (CMP) and PANi, ensuring exceptionally specific surface area, nitrogen-rich property, stable framework and high conductivity. Attributed to these superiorities, the current collector modified by CMPA delivers a high areal capacity (7.42 mAh cm-2) and high energy density (202.8 Wh kgcell-1) even under the sulfur loading of 8.72 mg cm-2. These outcomes present new strategy for designing advanced cathode and also demonstrate the potential of CMPs in energy storage batteries.