In Situ Constructing Polymer Conductors with Aromatic Side Chains Functionalized Sb2Se3 Complex for Enhanced Potassium Motion

Abstract

AbstractThe conversion/alloying‐type electrode has promising potential in next‐generation large‐scale energy storage. However, it is plagued by vast volume expansion, the sluggish ion transport capability due to the anion migration and the deficient geometric conformation. Herein, an ultrastable Sb2Se3 anode is elaborately designed for potassium‐ion batteries (PIBs) through combined strategies of expedited side‐chain transport with bulky polar groups and stable molecular conformations. By rendering flexible polymer conductor (PC), hyaluronic acid conjugated dopamine, (named as HD) with a dissociated tetraethylthiuram disulfide (TETD) side chain, i.e., THD, via the in situ growth protocol over the hollow nitrogen‐doped polyhedron carbon (NC) confined Mn‐Sb2Se3 nanospheres (THD/Mn‐Sb2Se3@NC) grafting multipolar intramolecular covalent bonds, the fabricated THD/Mn‐Sb2Se3@NC displays gloriously enhanced side chain transport capability along with planarity and rigidity, benefiting from the finely decoupled segmental motion of the polymer chains and the dislocated π–π electrons. Consequently, THD/Mn‐Sb2Se3@NC exhibits superior fast‐charging behavior with a wider temperature adaptability from −50 °C to 80 °C. The findings provide fundamental guidance for developing advanced electrodes with outstanding side chain transport kinetics that go beyond safe, high‐performance PIBs.