An organic/inorganic electrode-based hydronium-ion battery.

Guo, Zhaowei; Huang, Jianhang; Dong, Xiaoli; Xia, Yongyao; Yan, Lei; Wang, Zhuo; Wang, Yonggang · Nat Commun · 2020

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Hydronium-ion batteries are regarded as one of the most promising energy technologies as next-generation power sources, benefiting from their cost effectivity and sustainability merits. Herein, we propose a hydronium-ion battery which is based on an organic pyrene-4,5,9,10-tetraone anode and an inorganic MnO<sub>2</sub>@graphite felt cathode in an acid electrolyte. Its operation involves a quinone/hydroquinone redox reaction on anode and a MnO<sub>2</sub>/Mn<sup>2+</sup> conversion reaction on cathode, in parallel with the transfer of H<sub>3</sub>O<sup>+</sup> between two electrodes. The distinct operation mechanism affords this hydronium-ion battery an energy density up to 132.6 Wh kg<sup>-1</sup> and a supercapacitor-comparable power density of 30.8 kW kg<sup>-1</sup>, along with a long-term cycling life over 5000 cycles. Furthermore, surprisingly, this hydronium-ion battery works well even with a frozen electrolyte under -40 °C, and superior rate performance and cycle stability remain at -70 °C.