An organic cathode with multiple redox active centers for high-rate and chemically self-charging flexible aqueous zinc-ion battery

In order to overcome the shortcomings of traditional self-charging systems with complex structures, it is necessary to develop new self-charging systems with simple structures. Herein, a flexible chemically selfcharging aqueous Zn-ion battery (AZIB) using hexachlorohexaazatrinaphthylene (HCLHATN) cathode with simple structure is constructed. The flexible Zn//HCLHATN battery not only has higher volumetric energy density (10.63 mWh cm-3), but also superior flexibility and good stability. Notably, the redox reaction can happen between O2 from air and the discharged HCLHATN cathode, which results in the flexible discharged Zn// HCLHATN battery owning chemically self-charging capability. Thus, such flexible Zn//HCLHATN battery after being exposed to air for 15 h, can not only deliver a high discharge capacity (226 mA h g-1 at 0.5 A g-1) and a high rate-capability (169 mA h g-1 at 10 A g-1), but also a higher cycle stability (6 cycles) for self-charging and operate smoothly at hybrid modes of galvanostatic or/and chemical charging, showing excellent reusability. Our research renders a new guidance for obtaining high-rate and chemically self-charging flexible AZIBs.