The synthesis and catalytic activity to Li/SOCl2 battery of two new porphyrins

• Metal-free porphyrin as a catalyst was used in Li/SOCl2 battery for the first time;
• Metal-free porphyrin exhibits higher efficient in Li/SOCl2 battery than that metal phthalocyanine derivatives in some previous reports;
• Excellent catalytic performance is ascribed to promote SOCl2 electroreduction.

Two new porphyrins (3a, 3b) were synthesized and characterized by IR, UV–vis, 1H NMR, MS and elementary analysis. The catalytic activity of the synthesized porphyrins to lithium/thionyl chloride (Li/SOCl2) battery is evaluated by the relative energy of the battery whose electrolyte contains the porphyrins. The results indicate that the energy of Li/SOCl2 battery catalyzed by porphyrins 3a and 3b is 101, 37% higher, respectively, than that of Li/SOCl2 battery in the absence of the porphyrins. It can be used as a basis for the synthesis of more porphyrins with improved catalytic activity to Li/SOCl2 battery in the future.

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