An organic/inorganic electrode-based hydronium-ion battery

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 MnO2@graphite felt cathode in an acid electrolyte. Its operation involves a quinone/hydroquinone redox reaction on anode and a MnO2/Mn2+ conversion reaction on cathode, in parallel with the transfer of H3O+ between two electrodes. The distinct operation mechanism affords this hydronium-ion battery an energy density up to 132.6Whkg(-1) and a supercapacitor-comparable power density of 30.8kWkg(-1), 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 degrees C, and superior rate performance and cycle stability remain at -70 degrees C. The authors show a hydronium-ion battery with an organic pyrene-4,5,9,10-tetraone anode and a MnO2@graphite cathode and H3O+ as the charge carrier. In addition to exhibiting promising energy density and power density, this battery works well even under low temperatures ranging from -40 degrees C to -70 degrees C.