Tris-amido Naphthoquinone: Toward High Capacity and Stability Organic Cathode for Aqueous Zinc Battery

Abstract

The development of organic electrodes featuring high density of redox units and enhanced stability is of great theoretical and practical importance for advancing energy storage technologies. In this work, we present tris-amido naphthoquinone (TANQ) as a cathode material for high-performance aqueous zinc-organic batteries (ZOBs), achieved through molecular extension via amide linkages. The material benefits from synergistic hydrogen-bonding networks and π-π stacking, which strengthen intermolecular interactions and effectively suppress dissolution. Owing to its high density of redox centers, TANQ undergoes reversible multi-electron redox reactions, giving a high specific capacity of 213 mAh g -1 at 0.2 A g -1 , primarily via a Zn 2+ storage mechanism. This high capacity enables TANQ to achieve a notable specific discharge energy of 140 Wh kg -1 at 0.2 A g -1 . TANQ also exhibits outstanding rate capability (153 mAh g -1 at 2 A g -1 ) and long-term cycling stability, retaining 94% of its capacity after 700 cycles.