High-performance organic electrodes for sustainable zinc-ion batteries: Advances, challenges and perspectives

The burgeoning demand for renewable energy sources is catalyzing advancements in energy storage and conversion technologies. In contrast to conventional inorganic materials, organic electrode materials (OEMs) are poised as the optimal cathodes for the next-generation zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs). This is attributable to their abundant source materials, superior theoretical capacity, versatility in structural design, and inherent sustainability. Despite extensive research endeavors directed towards OEMs, they frequently manifest challenges associated with limited conductivity and stability, precipitating in a degradation of their output capability. Furthermore, the underlying operational mechanisms of these materials remain a subject of ongoing investigation. This review firstly elucidates the diverse storage mechanisms posited for various organic cathodes and delineates the fundamentals and evolutionary trends of OEMs, especially those characterized by distinct active functional groups. Subsequently, consolidates the primary challenges encumbering organic cathodes and advocate strategic design interventions to enhance their electrochemical performance. The forward-looking perspectives on Zn-organic batteries are provided finally. We believe that this review will provide some inspiration for the development of advanced and efficient aqueous ZIBs.