A rechargeable battery based on hydrophilic radical polymer electrode and its green assessment

A hydrophilic radical polymer electrode-based rechargeable battery was designed along the concept of green chemistry. A hydrophilic radical polymer, poly(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxy-4-yl vinylether), was synthesized as an electrode-active material; its battery demonstrated a high charging-discharging rate and long cycle life. The combination of the hydrophilic polymer electrode and an aqueous electrolyte for the battery fabrication was expected to provide safety improvements such as a low ignition risk besides the high battery performance. The green characteristics were studied using the i-Messe, an evaluation method proposed by the committee of the Green Sustainable Chemistry Network, Japan. The electrode-active polymer was evaluated for substantial improvements in disaster safety and health safety.