The synthesis and investigation of binuclear metal phthalocyanines as high-efficiency catalysts for Li/SOCl₂ battery

Two novel series of binuclear metal phthalocyanines M₂(PcHb)₂ and M₂(PcHb)₂C (M = Co(II), Mn(II), Fe(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II)) were designed and synthesized as high-efficiency catalysts for lithium/thionyl chloride (Li/SOCl₂) battery. For the sake of preparing the novel compounds, a simple and convenient method called microwave irradiation was developed. Numerous techniques including elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet–visible, and thermal gravimetric analysis were employed to characterize the final products. For the purpose of evaluating the catalytic performances of binuclear metal phthalocyanines to Li/SOCl₂ battery, these compounds were operated in the electrolyte of the battery. The results revealed that the capacity of the battery had been improved approximately 15.4–46.1 %, which should be attributed to the electronic configurations of the metal ions, the phthalocyanine rings, and the synergistic effect. Among the effects of diverse metal ions on the catalytic performances of binuclear phthalocyanines, Co(II) and Ni(II) phthalocyanines were found to increase the catalytic performances to a great extent, approximately 45.1 and 46.1 %, respectively. In summary, all the evidences testified that binuclear metal phthalocyanines in this study could improve the catalyst performances dramatically when they were operated in the electrolyte of the battery.