Unlocking the Potential of Organic Cathode in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries Through Composite Engineering

This study presents a strategy to enhancing the performance of organic cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). The primary lies in the development of a composite cathode PTO@CMK-3, which combines pyrene-4,5,9,10-tetrone (PTO) with CMK-3 mesoporous carbon to mitigate the disolution issues that typically limit organic cathodes in aqueous electrolytes. This PTO@CMK-3 composite material exhibits excellent reversible capacity, maintaining a specific capacity exceeding 90 mAh g^{- 1} after 2000 cycles at 0.1 A g^{- 1}, demonstrating outstanding cycling stability. Furthermore, it retains 62% capacity after 33 000 cycles at 2 A g^{- 1}, showcasing exceptional long-term performance. The distinctive structure of CMK-3 improves both electronic and ionic conductivity, while its adsorption capability mitigates the dissolution of PTO discharge products. This dual function provides a scalable approach for the development of organic cathodes in aqueous zinc-ion batteries. This work not only addresses the challenges of organic cathode materials but also opens up new possibilities for sustainable, high-performance energy storage systems.