Highly Stable and High Rate-Performance Na-Ion Batteries Using Polyanionic Anthraquinone as the Organic Cathode

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Organic electrode materials offer sustainable alternatives for next-generation batteries.
• Anthraquinone derivatives are promising candidates due to their redox activity.
• Stability and capacity retention remain key challenges for organic cathodes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the electrochemical performance of Sodium 9,10-anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (Na2 AQ26DS) as a cathode material in sodium-ion batteries.
• To assess the long-term cycling stability and rate capability of Na2 AQ26DS.
• To compare the performance against existing organic cathode materials.

Main Methods:

• Electrochemical testing of Na2 AQ26DS in a sodium-ion battery configuration.
• Galvanostatic cycling at various current densities (50 mA g−1 and 1 A g−1).
• Analysis of capacity retention and cycling stability over extended periods (300 and 1000 cycles).

Main Results:

• Na2 AQ26DS exhibits high stability as an organic cathode.
• Capacities of approximately 120 mAh g−1 were delivered over 300 cycles at 50 mA g−1.
• A capacity of around 99 mAh g−1 was maintained for 1000 cycles at 1 A g−1.
• Achieved the best performance reported for small-molecule, anthraquinone-based organic cathodes in ion batteries.

Conclusions:

• Sodium 9,10-anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate is a highly stable and high-performance organic cathode material for sodium-ion batteries.
• Its robust cycling performance makes it a leading candidate for practical sodium-ion energy storage applications.
• This study highlights the potential of functionalized anthraquinones in advancing organic battery technology.