Super‐Electron‐Donor Polymers: From Monomer Design to Redox Functionality
Abstract
The design flexibility of organic materials has enabled numerous applications for energy storage systems. However, few examples of low‐potential p‐type materials for the negative electrode are known in the field of organic batteries, particularly relevant for anion‐rocking‐chair full‐cells. Herein, we present a synthetic design to incorporate bridged 2,2′‐bipyridinium units, which in their reduced form are known as super‐electron‐donors, into a polymer structure. By adapting their synthesis, we obtain a hydroxy‐functionalized bridged bipyridinium salt with interesting structural features that are determined by molecular symmetry and environmental effects. Incorporation into a linear and cross‐linked poly(methacrylate) reduces its electrolyte solubility, enabling its initial electrochemical evaluation in lithium battery half‐cells. After testing electrodes with different compositions and screening electrolytes, we demonstrate that these polymers have the potential to function as electrode‐active materials, operating at an attractively low potential of 1.8 V vs. Li/Li + . This work highlights the opportunities of low‐potential 2,2′‐bipyridinium‐based polymers and demonstrates how synthetic design strategies can guide the development of novel organic electrode materials, providing a foundation for future research in this field.
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BibTeX
@article{rzesny2026superelectrondonor,
title = {{Super‐Electron‐Donor Polymers: From Monomer Design to Redox Functionality}},
author = {Luisa Rzesny and Aswadh Shyma Sajeevan and Caroline Schmidt and Johannes Lahr and Christoph Lorenz and Mathias Hermann and Nicolas Dupré and Stéven Renault and Philippe Poizot and Birgit Esser},
journal = {Small},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1002/smll.75375},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05754194v2},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Super‐Electron‐Donor Polymers: From Monomer Design to Redox Functionality
AU - Luisa Rzesny
AU - Aswadh Shyma Sajeevan
AU - Caroline Schmidt
AU - Johannes Lahr
AU - Christoph Lorenz
AU - Mathias Hermann
AU - Nicolas Dupré
AU - Stéven Renault
AU - Philippe Poizot
AU - Birgit Esser
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/09
JO - Small
DO - 10.1002/smll.75375
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05754194v2
AB - The design flexibility of organic materials has enabled numerous applications for energy storage systems. However, few examples of low‐potential p‐type materials for the negative electrode are known in the field of organic batteries, particularly relevant for anion‐rocking‐chair full‐cells. Herein, we present a synthetic design to incorporate bridged 2,2′‐bipyridinium units, which in their reduced form are known as super‐electron‐donors, into a polymer structure. By adapting their synthesis, we obtain a hydroxy‐functionalized bridged bipyridinium salt with interesting structural features that are determined by molecular symmetry and environmental effects. Incorporation into a linear and cross‐linked poly(methacrylate) reduces its electrolyte solubility, enabling its initial electrochemical evaluation in lithium battery half‐cells. After testing electrodes with different compositions and screening electrolytes, we demonstrate that these polymers have the potential to function as electrode‐active materials, operating at an attractively low potential of 1.8 V vs. Li/Li + . This work highlights the opportunities of low‐potential 2,2′‐bipyridinium‐based polymers and demonstrates how synthetic design strategies can guide the development of novel organic electrode materials, providing a foundation for future research in this field.
SN - 1613-6810
SN - 1613-6829
ER -