Aqueous zinc-organic polymer battery with a high rate performance and long lifetime

A novel redox-active polymer based on a 9,10-di(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-9,10-dihydroanthracene (exTTF) system in combination with a conjugated backbone was synthesized via rhodium (Rh)-catalyzed polymerization of 2-ethynyl(exTTF), leading to polymers with low polydispersities. Composite electrodes containing this polymer exhibited chemically reversible two-electron oxidation in aqueous media. The application of these electrodes as active cathode materials in hybrid zinc-organic batteries using an aqueous electrolyte enabled the production of air-stable charge storage systems with a theoretical capacity of 133 mAh g−1. These batteries featured high performance, charge/discharge rates of up to 120 C (30 s) and an ultra-long lifetime, of over 10 000 charge/discharge cycles (accompanied by a minor capacity loss of 14%). Finally, the polymer was compared with its nonconjugated derivative, revealing the positive influence of the conjugated backbone on the material activity owing to improved electron transfer within the polymer chain.