Graphene-Supported Naphthalene-Based Polyimide Composite as a High-Performance Sodium Storage Cathode

Electroactive acid anhydride with multicarbonyl is highly promising for electrochemical energy storage because of its high specific capacity and environmental benignity. Its low electrical conductivity and high dissolution in organic electrolyte, however, result in poor cycling and rate capabilities. Here, we report a naphthalene polyimide derivative (NPI) synthesized by using anhydride under condensation polymerization conditions, along with its composite with graphene (NPI-G) fabricated via in situ polymerization. The composite delivers a high reversible capacity and outstanding cycling stability and rate capability as a cathode for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) owing to the formation of a polymer, the improvement in the electrical conductivity brought about by the highly dispersed graphene sheets, and the enhancement of structural stability resulting from the p-p stacking interaction between the phenyl groups of NPI and the six-member carbon rings of graphene. This investigation sheds light on the development, design, and screening of next-generation organic electrode materials with high performance for SIBs.