Constructing flexible and conductive carbon matrix on organic potassium terephthalate to enhance the K-storage performance

Organic potassium terephthalate (K2TP) shows promising applications as an anode material in potassium-ion (K-ion) batteries with flexible crystal structure, suitable work potential, stable capability in organic electrolyte and environmentally friendly. Nevertheless, the inherent poor electronic conductivity has been the bottleneck to construct high-performance organic K-ion batteries. Herein, we initially report a flexible and conductive carbon coating layer on organic K2TP and reduced graphene oxide composite via electrospinning methodology and controlling medium–low temperature heat treatment (denoted as K2TP/rGO/C). The as-synthesized K2TP/rGO/C composite displays impressive cycle stability with a reversible specific capacity of 86 mAh g−1 at 200 mA g−1 after 500 cycles with an average capacity decay rate of only 0.1 % per cycle. It is demonstrated that the flexible conductive carbon coating layer and the continuous conductive network structure can significantly improve the electronic conductivity of organic K2TP, and reduce the interface transfer resistance. The rational construction of organic composite can offer a guideline for high-performance organic K-ion batteries.