Asymmetric Charge Distribution of Dual Active Sites in Nitroaromatics Toward High-Performance Zinc Organic Batteries

Organic small molecules have emerged as promising cathode candidates for aqueous zinc-ion batteries owing to their structural tunability and high redox activity. However, their development is hindered by inherently low operating voltages and limited specific capacities. Herein, a bipolar organic molecule is reported featuring intramolecular asymmetric charge distribution. By incorporating multiple strong electron-withdrawing nitro groups (-NO₂) within a single molecular framework, the bandgap is substantially narrowed, leading to enhanced electrochemical activity and improved ion storage capability. Concurrently, the triphenylamine (TPA) moiety serves as an efficient redox-active center, significantly accelerating the redox reaction kinetics. This unique charge asymmetry design achieves an alternating storage mechanism for cations and anions by synergistically enhancing redox activity and kinetic performance. As a result, assembled batteries can deliver high performance (356 Wh kg^-1 at 172.5 W kg^-1, with cycle stability of 10 000 cycles at 5 A g^-1). This study provides a novel design paradigm for high-performance cathode materials by regulating the asymmetry of intramolecular charge distribution.