Bio-inspired polyflavin electrodes for energy storage devices

Abstract

The present disclosure provides the use of a biomolecule, flavin, appended to a polymerizable unit that can then be polymerized to form an electroactive active polymer. The polymer and the flavin unit are comprised of an organic material containing C, H, N, and O atoms. The electroactive functionality is related to the double bonds that are present in the flavin unit that are appended to a non-electroactive backbone. This appended unit is rendered insoluble in the electrolyte of the discussed secondary battery unit. Several different molecular structures are disclosed exhibiting efficacy as energy storage medium in energy storage devices. Compounds have also been synthesized from which these different energy storage molecular structures are produced.

Therefore what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electroactive polymer having a molecular structure of Formula 5A/B: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 4 , R 5 , R 8 , R 11 , and R 12  are independently a hydrogen atom, alkyl group, cyano group, nitro group, halogen, aromatic group or heteroaromatic group; 
         R 3  and R 6  are independently a hydrogen atom, alkyl group, aromatic group, heteroaromatic group or crosslinking agent; 
         R 9  and R 10  are independently a hydrogen atom, alkyl group, a polyether chain to improve ionic conductivity or a conjugated polymer chain to improve electrical conductivity, or a conjugated polymer chain to improve electrical conductivity; 
         X and Y are independently either a carbon or oxygen atom; 
         n 1  and n 2  are independently a number of repeat units ranging from 0 to 6; 
         n 3  and n 4  are independently a number of repeat units ranging from 1 to 1000; and 
         Ar is an end group defined from the ring-opening polymerization catalyst. 
       
     
     
         2 . The electroactive polymer according to  claim 1  wherein the crosslinking agent is ester, amide, alkyl, aryl, or any polymer thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The electroactive polymer according to  claim 1  wherein Ar is phenyl, tolyl, biphenyl or alkenyl. 
     
     
         4 . The electroactive polymer according to  claim 1  wherein the polyether chain of R 9  and R 10  is a polyethylene glycol chain with a degree of polymerization less than or equal to 10. 
     
     
         5 . The electroactive polymer according to  claim 1  wherein the conjugated polymer chain of R 9  and R 19  is polyphenyl or polythiophene. 
     
     
         6 . The electroactive polymer according to  claim 1  wherein the alkyl group of R 1 , R 2 , R 4 , R 5 , R 8 , R 11 , and R 12  is methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl or butyl. 
     
     
         7 . The electroactive polymer according to  claim 1  wherein the alkyl group of R 3  and R 6  is methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl or butyl. 
     
     
         8 . The electroactive polymer according to  claim 1  wherein the alkyl group of R 9  and R 10  is methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl or butyl. 
     
     
         9 . The electroactive polymer according to  claim 1  wherein the alkyl group of R 1 , R 2 , R 4 , R 5 , R 8 , R 11 , and R 12  is methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl or butyl, the alkyl group of R 3  and R 6  is methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl or butyl, the alkyl group of R 9  and R 10  is methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl or butyl. 
     
     
         10 . The electroactive polymer according to  claim 1  wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5  and R 6  are methyl. 
     
     
         11 . The electroactive polymer according to  claim 10  wherein X is a methylene. 
     
     
         12 . The electroactive polymer according to  claim 10  wherein n 1  and n 2  are equal to one (1), and n 3  and n 4  are ranging between 1 to 1000. 
     
     
         13 . The electroactive polymer according to  claim 10  wherein Ar is phenyl. 
     
     
         14 . The electroactive polymer according to  claim 1  wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5  and R 6  are methyl; R 8  are H, X is a methylene; n 1  and n 2  are equal to one (1), n 3  and n 4  are ranging between 1 to 1000 and Ar is phenyl. 
     
     
         15 . An energy storage device comprising an electrode material having a molecular structure of the electroactive polymer of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . The energy storage device according to  claim 15  in wherein the energy storage device is any one of a lithium-ion battery, a sodium-ion battery, a magnesium-ion battery, an aluminum-ion battery, a potassium-ion battery, a metal-sulfur battery, a metal-air battery, a solid-state battery, a flow battery, an aqueous battery, a capacitor, a supercapacitor, a hybrid device combining electrode materials of any of the above devices, and a thin film battery and wherein the energy storage device has a total device thickness of less than 5 millimeter. 
     
     
         17 . An energy storage device according to  claim 15  wherein the energy storage device is a battery comprising an electrolyte, and wherein said electrolyte comprises a salt dissolved in an organic electrolyte or, a salt dissolved in an aqueous electrolyte, or a salt dissolved in a gel polymer electrolyte with an aqueous or organic solvent. 
     
     
         18 . An energy storage device according to  claim 15  wherein the energy storage device has one or both of flexible mechanical properties and a customizable form factor. 
     
     
         19 . An energy storage device comprising an electrode material having a molecular structure of the electroactive polymer of  claim 9 . 
     
     
         20 . An energy storage device comprising an electrode material having a molecular structure of the electroactive polymer of  claim 14 .