Lithium salt of biphenyl tetracarboxylate as an anode material for Li/Na-ion batteries

Abstract Electrochemical lithiation/delithiation and sodiation/desodiation studies are carried out on lithium [1,1′-biphenyl]-3,3′,4,4′-tetracarboxylate (Li 4 -BPTC). Although four Li + can be inserted, only two Li + was reversible yielding a capacity of 110, 122 and 107 mAh g −1 (after 50 cycles) at a current density of 40, 80 and 160 mA g −1 respectively. As sodium analog of Li 4 -BPTC is unstable in the ambient conditions, Li 4 -BPTC was tested in sodium half-cell and a reversible capacity of 107 mAh g −1 was obtained even after 200 cycles at 160 mA g −1 rate. The exchange of Li + by Na + in Li 4 -BPTC electrode during the electrochemical sodiation/desodiation was confirmed by ICP-OES and XPS studies.