Two-dimensional polymer nanosheets as a high-performance organic anode for sodium-ion batteries

Organic compounds have become a potentially important choice for a new generation of energy-storage electrode materials due to their designability, flexibility, green sustainability, and abundance. However, the applications of organic electrode materials are still limited because of their dissolution in electrolytes and low electrical conductivity, which in turn cause poor cycling stability. Here, for the first time, we report 2-amino-4-thiazole-acetic acid (ATA) and its sodium salt, sodium 2-amino-4-thiazol-derived polymer (PATANa), as an anode. The PATANa showed a two-dimensional (2D) nanosheet structure, offering a larger contact area with the electrolyte and a shorter ion-migration path, which improved the ion-diffusion kinetics. The polymer showed excellent cycling stability and outstanding rate capability when tested as an anode for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). It could deliver a high reversible specific capacity of 303 mA h g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1) for 100 cycles and maintain a high discharge capacity of 190 mA h g(-1) after 1000 long cycle numbers even at a high current density of 1000 mA g(-1). This approach of salinizing the polymer opens a new way to develop anode materials for sodium-ion batteries.