Squaric acid-based polymers, their manufacturing processes and their uses

A process for producing a polymer, the process comprising the steps of:

• (a) reacting monomeric units of Formulae II and IV:
• wherein,
• Y is a leaving group is independently in each occurrence selected from a chlorine atom, a bromine atom and an iodine atom, preferably Y is in each occurrence a chlorine atom;
• R1 is an optionally substituted conjugated non-aromatic cyclic group, such as a quinone group, an optionally substituted aromatic or partially aromatic organic group, or combination thereof in a polycyclic group, preferably R1 is a monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic or partially aromatic organic group, preferably derived from one or a plurality fused benzene rings or from one or a plurality of 5 or 6-membered fused rings or combinations thereof;
• Z is independently in each occurrence, selected from the group consisting of a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, an iodine atom, a boronic acid, a boronic acid ester and a trialkyltin group, preferably Z is in each occurrence a chlorine atom or a bromine atom;
• r is an integer representing the number of Z within the monomeric unit of Formula IV and is at least 2;
• and
• wherein the monomeric unit of Formula IV is preferably selected from Formulae IV(a) to IV(o):
• (b) isolating the polymer produced in step (a).

An electrode material comprising a polymer of Formula I:

• wherein,
• n and m are integers representing the number of each monomeric units within the polymer, wherein n≥2 and m≥0;
• X is, independently in each occurrence, selected from an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom and an amine group of the formula NRx;
• p is an integer representing the number of X groups in each monomeric unit and is 0 or 1;
• R1 is an optionally substituted conjugated non-aromatic cyclic group, such as a quinone group, an optionally substituted aromatic or partially aromatic organic group, or combination thereof in a polycyclic group, preferably R1 is a monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic or partially aromatic organic group, preferably derived from one or a plurality fused benzene rings or from one or a plurality of 5 or 6-membered fused rings or combinations thereof;
• and
• Rx is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl.

An electrolyte composition comprising a salt a polymer of Formula I:

• wherein,
• n and m are integers representing the number of each monomeric units within the polymer, wherein n≥2 and m≥0;
• X is, independently in each occurrence, selected from an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom and an amine group of the formula NRx;
• p is an integer representing the number of X groups in each monomeric unit and is 0 or 1;
• R1 is an optionally substituted conjugated non-aromatic cyclic group, such as a quinone group, an optionally substituted aromatic or partially aromatic organic group, or combination thereof in a polycyclic group, preferably R1 is a monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic or partially aromatic organic group, preferably derived from one or a plurality fused benzene rings or from one or a plurality of 5 or 6-membered fused rings or combinations thereof;
• and Rx is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl;
• preferably said electrolyte composition is a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) composition or a gel electrolyte composition.

An electrochemical cell comprising a negative electrode, a positive electrode and an electrolyte, wherein at least one of the positive electrode or electrolyte comprises a polymer of Formula I:

• wherein,
• n and m are integers representing the number of each monomeric units within the polymer, wherein n≥2 and m≥0;
• X is, independently in each occurrence, selected from an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom and an amine group of the formula NRx;
• p is an integer representing the number of X groups in each monomeric unit and is 0 or 1;
• R1 is an optionally substituted conjugated non-aromatic cyclic group, such as a quinone group, an optionally substituted aromatic or partially aromatic organic group, or combination thereof in a polycyclic group, preferably R1 is a monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic or partially aromatic organic group, preferably derived from one or a plurality fused benzene rings or from one or a plurality of 5 or 6-membered fused rings or combinations thereof;
• and
• Rx is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl;
• preferably the negative electrode is an alkali metal film and more preferably a metallic lithium film or an alloy thereof.