Gang Wang

Organic materials have attracted considerable attention in rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) due to their sustainability and structural tunability. However, the electrochemical performance of existing organic electrode is severely constrained by limited redox-active sites, high solubility and short conjugated backbones. Here, a conjugated N-heterocyclic anhydride-based framework, benzoquinone-fused dianhydride (NTBQ), is synthesized via solid-state condensation for high-capacity and ultrastable zinc-ion storage. The strategic integration of C=O groups triggers intramolecular the electrostatic potential reconstruction and fully activates adjacent C=N sites, enabling fast and thermodynamically spontaneous multi-electron Zn2+/H+ co-insertion. This structural design delivers a high initial specific capacity (341.6 mAh g-1 at 0.05 A g-1) and excellent rate capability. Moreover, the extended π-electron delocalization significantly strengthens intermolecular π-π interactions, effectively suppressing the dissolution of NTBQ in aqueous electrolytes and affording long-lasting cycling durability (88.1% retention after 10,000 cycles at 10 A g-1). Systematic mechanistic studies demonstrate that the superior electrochemical performance originates from the synergistic redox chemistry of C=O/C=N dual-active centers within the anhydride-based skeleton. These findings demonstrate that utilizing intramolecular electronic modulation to evoke superior multi-electron redox activity offers a feasible route to boost the practical application of organic cathodes in advanced AZIBs.

Compared with NiCo-LDH, the as-obtained Ti-doped NiCo-LDH with abundant M–O–Ti (M = Ni, Co) bonds and oxygen vacancies exhibits excellent oxygen evolution reaction performance and water splitting activity.

Different layer spacings of V₂O₅ were obtained through dual organic molecule co-insertion. Herein, VNK4 (8.76 Å) exhibits excellent long-cycle life as the cathode of zinc-ion batteries, revealing the importance of regulating the layer spacing.

A plasma discharge method in water was proposed to synthesize Fe,N–Co(OH)_x. Fe/N co-doping formed N–Co–O–Fe molecules which accelerated electron redistribution, facilitating high-valent Co(iv) formation and lattice oxygen activation.

Biowaste-derived heteroatom-doped porous carbons have garnered substantial attention as nonmetal catalysts for electrocatalysis. However, various heteroatom species and/or diverse coordination states within the carbon framework complicate the understanding of their enhanced catalytic activity. This study employs hydroxyl-rich biomass, specifically banana peels, and photovoltaic waste SiCl₄ as precursors to synthesize porous carbon featuring highly uniform C–O–Si bonds. This material facilitates the elucidation of mechanisms underlying the improved oxygen reduction activity of C–O–Si active sites. Due to Si's substantially lower electronegativity (1.90) compared to that of O (3.44), Si atoms exhibit lower electron density and possess Lewis basicity. This characteristic allows Si to function as a novel active site, enhancing the oxygen reduction activity. The resulting Si–BP–Carbon catalyst demonstrates a low half-wave potential of 0.813 V (vs. RHE) and achieves a diffusion-limited current density of 4.69 mA cm⁻², coupled with good tolerance to methanol crossover and high selectivity toward the 4-electron reaction pathway. Density functional theory calculations corroborate that Si atoms can lose electrons in C–O–Si bonds, improving the adsorption of O₂ and *OOH intermediates. The abundance of C–O–Si bonds makes Si–BP–Carbon highly suitable as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries due to its enhanced capacity for lithium-ion (Li⁺) adsorption facilitated by Si heteroatoms.

Organic materials for aqueous zinc ion batteries have been attracted the attention of researchers because of their high safety, environmental friendliness, and structural designability. However, the limited specific capacity, unsatisfactory cycling durability, and unclear charge storage mechanism limit their development and applications. Herein, NTCDA-2,3-DNQ, an organic compound with a benzimidazole ring structure, was designed through the number and distribution of active sites as well as the adjustment of molecular weight, and applied as the cathode for aqueous zinc-ion batteries. NTNQ exhibits high specific capacity of 290.5 mAh·g^–1 at 0.05 A·g^–1, excellent rate performance of 133.3 mAh·g^–1 at 15 A·g^–1, and relatively stable cycle life with 81.7% capacity retention over 10,000 superlong cycles at 10 A·g^–1. Furthermore, the synergistic effect of neighboring active sites and multi-electron Zn²⁺ storage reactions are further explored by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and the results show that NTNQ could stores 4Zn²⁺ while transferring 8e^– in the N-Zn-O pathway during the storage of Zn²⁺. Interestingly, NTNQ still exhibits high specific capacity and favorable cycling stability at multiple ultra-high loadings. This work provides important chances including the design concepts of the organic molecules and the investigation of the Zn²⁺ storage mechanism for high performance aqueous zinc ion batteries.