Methoxyl-Containing Hyper-Crosslinked Polymer from Largely Bio-Based Biphenyl Methyl Ether and Its Application in Lithium-Sulfur Battery

A new biphenyl methyl ether viz 2,2′,3,3′-tetramethoxy-5,5′-bis(methoxymethyl)-1,1′-biphenyl (TBMB) was synthesized starting from vanillin via three-step reaction sequence. The self-polycondensation of TBMB by employing two Bronsted acid catalysts, viz, p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA) and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFSA) led to the formation of organic hyper-crosslinked polymers (HCPs) containing built-in methoxyl groups. HCPs were characterized by FTIR, solid state 13C NMR, XPS, XRD, TGA, BET, and FESEM analysis techniques. HCPs synthesized using PTSA (HCP-PTSA) and TFSA (HCP-TFSA) exhibited a Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area of 480 ± 5 and 590 ± 4 m2/g, respectively and consisted of hierarchical pore structures with both micropores and mesopores. HCP-TFSA was evaluated as an active coating layer on conventional polypropylene (PP) separator in lithium-sulfur batteries to suppress the polysulfide shuttling on account of the ability of methoxyl groups to anchor soluble polysulfide species via coordination. The significant polysulfide adsorption capacity and improved cycling stability with a capacity of 617.2 mAh g−1 at 0.5C and 99% capacity retention highlighted the potential of porous HCP containing built-in methoxyl groups in the development of attractive lithium-sulfur battery systems. [Display omitted] •A new largely bio-based monomer viz 2,2′,3,3′-tetramethoxy-5,5′-bis(methoxymethyl)-1,1′-biphenyl (TBMB) was synthesized starting from vanillin.•Bronsted acid-catalyzed self-polycondensation of TBMB resulted into the formation of bio-derived methoxyl-containing hyper-crosslinked polymer (HCP).•HCP-coated polypropylene (PP) separator demonstrated improved performance due to suppression of polysulfide shuttling in lithium-sulfur battery.