{
  "abstract": "The development of sustainable cathode-active materials for lithium-ion batteries requires organic redox systems that combine high reaction potential, sufficient capacity, and cycling stability. High-potential n-type redox-active motifs are particularly attractive because smaller-sized cation insertion generally enables smoother ion diffusion than in p-type systems; however, such materials remain limited. In this study, we report the synthesis of a fused biimidazole-containing polymer, poly(biimidazo[4,5-b]-1,4-benzoquinone) (PBIBQ), and investigate its applicability as a high-potential organic cathode material. PBIBQ was synthesized from tetraamino-1,4-benzoquinone and oxalic acid, and its structure was characterized by solid-state NMR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Electrochemical measurements revealed that PBIBQ exhibits reversible redox behavior with an average discharge potential of 3.25 V vs Li/Li+ and a specific capacity of 133 mAh g–1, demonstrating one of the highest energy-density levels among nonbenzoquinone/hydroquinone-type organic cathodes. Ex situ XPS analyses and density functional theory calculations support that the biimidazole/tetraazafulvalene-type unit functions as the redox-active center and suggest that Li+ insertion between nitrogen atoms is the dominant charge-storage process. However, PBIBQ suffered a gradual capacity decrease during multicycling due to dissolution of the active material and/or its reduced derivatives. To address this issue, a cross-linked derivative, NW-PBIBQ, was synthesized using a tetrafunctional carboxylic acid linker, and the composite of NW-PBIBQ and multiwalled carbon nanotubes was further prepared to improve charge transport. These approaches successfully suppressed dissolution and lowered charge-transfer resistance, improving rate capability and cycle stability. Overall, these results demonstrate that a fused biimidazole-based polymer is a promising molecular motif to realize high-voltage n-type organic cathode.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Institute of Science Tokyo , , ,"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Keisuke Ai"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Narumi Uchiyama"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Kosuke Sato",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-3914-0249"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Shinsuke Inagi",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9867-1210"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/21xdmp5x728ze.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1021/acsomega.6c05794",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "21xdmp5x728ze",
  "issns": [
    "2470-1343"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://pubs.acs.org/acsodf/article/doi/10.1021/acsomega.6c05794/5462933/Synthesis-of-Fused-Biimidazole-Containing-Polymers",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": "https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acsomega.6c05794",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-11-03",
  "publisher": "American Chemical Society (ACS)",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/21xdmp5x728ze.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-04T00:23:54Z",
      "native_id": "10.1021/acsomega.6c05794",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://pubs.acs.org/acsodf/article/doi/10.1021/acsomega.6c05794/5462933/Synthesis-of-Fused-Biimidazole-Containing-Polymers"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "issn:2470-1343",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Synthesis of Fused Biimidazole-Containing Polymers and Their Application as High-Potential Organic Cathode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries",
  "title_text": "Synthesis of Fused Biimidazole-Containing Polymers and Their Application as High-Potential Organic Cathode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-05T00:20:52Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/21xdmp5x728ze",
  "venue": "ACS Omega",
  "versions": []
}