p-Dopable poly(4-cyano)triphenylamine: A high voltage organic cathode for lithium ion batteries

•Poly(4-cyano)triphenylamine was prepared through oxidative polymerization.•Structures and electrochemical properties of the polymer were evaluated.•Poly(4-cyano)triphenylamine exhibited good cycleability and high rate-capability.•Poly(4-cyano)triphenylamine possibly serving as cathode for Li-ion battery.

In this work, p-dopable poly(4-cyano)triphenylamine is prepared simply by grafting electron-withdrawing cyano group onto triphenylamine chains through a chemical oxidative polymerization. The electrochemical tests show that the organic cathode has a high average discharge voltage of 3.9 V (vs. Li+/Li), and delivers a reversible capacity of ~80 mAh g−1with stable cycling, also a capacity of 55 mAh g−1 is retained even cycled at a high current density of 400 mA g−1.The superior electrochemical performances of this organic cathode may enable it to be an alternative cathode material for future green and sustainable organic-based batteries.