Development of Novel Redox-Active Organic Materials Based on Benzimidazole, Benzoxazole, and Benzothiazole: A Combined Theoretical and Experimental Screening Approach

Sustainability is one of the hot topics of today's research, in particular when it comes to energy-storage systems such as batteries. Redox-active molecules implemented in organic batteries represent a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries, which partially rely on non-sustainable heavy metal salts. As an alternative, we propose benzothiazole, -oxazole and -imidazole derivatives as redox-active moieties for polymers in organic (radical) batteries. The target molecules were identified by a combination of theoretical and experimental approaches for the investigation of new organic active materials. Herein, we present the synthesis, electrochemical characterization and theoretical investigation of the proposed molecules, which can later be introduced into a polymer backbone and used in organic polymer batteries. Combining theory and experiment allows the screening of new active materials. Electrochemical properties of the redox moieties can be predicted accurately. Out of three classes of molecule (benzo-thiazole, -oxazole, -imidazole), benzoxazoles exhibit the best electrochemical properties and can be further introduced into or onto a polymeric backbone, with the aim of being used in organic polymer batteries.image