Electroactive Chelating Groups Enable High-Performance Aqueous Zinc-Organic Batteries.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• P-type organic electrode materials offer fast kinetics and high redox potential for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs).
• Current limitations include low capacity and poor cycling stability, hindering practical ZIB applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To improve the capacity and cycling stability of p-type triphenylamine derivative-based electrodes for ZIBs.
• To investigate the role of electroactive chelating groups in enhancing electrode performance.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of poly(1,4-naphthoquinone-1,3,5-tri(4-aminophenyl)benzene) incorporating electroactive chelating groups.
• Electrochemical performance testing (capacity, rate capability, cycling stability).
• In/ex situ spectroscopic analysis and theoretical investigations.

Main Results:

• The modified electrode exhibits a high reversible capacity of 311 mAh g⁻¹ at 50 mA g⁻¹.
• Superior rate performance was achieved, with 199 mAh g⁻¹ at 10 A g⁻¹.
• Exceptional cycling stability was demonstrated, retaining 83%-96% capacity over 5000 cycles.

Conclusions:

• Electroactive chelating groups significantly enhance capacity and stability in p-type organic electrodes for ZIBs.
• These groups promote stable zinc-supramolecular network formation, mitigating material dissolution and electrolyte decomposition.
• The developed material sets a new benchmark for organic electrode materials in high-performance ZIBs.