Asymmetric Charge Distribution of Dual Active Sites in Nitroaromatics Toward High‐Performance Zinc Organic Batteries

Chengmin Hu; Qi Huang; Yang Qin; Hui Zeng; Yeqing Xu; Abuduheiremu Awati; Kang Liang; Lei Jiang; Biao Kong

doi:10.1002/smll.202507623

journal article·2025-10

Asymmetric Charge Distribution of Dual Active Sites in Nitroaromatics Toward High‐Performance Zinc Organic Batteries

Chengmin Hu, Qi Huang, Yang Qin, Hui Zeng, Yeqing Xu, Abuduheiremu Awati, Kang Liang, Lei Jiang, Biao Kong

Small· Volume 21· Issue 39

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Source abstract

Abstract

Abstract Organic small molecules have emerged as promising cathode candidates for aqueous zinc‐ion batteries owing to their structural tunability and high redox activity. However, their development is hindered by inherently low operating voltages and limited specific capacities. Herein, a bipolar organic molecule is reported featuring intramolecular asymmetric charge distribution. By incorporating multiple strong electron‐withdrawing nitro groups (−NO₂) within a single molecular framework, the bandgap is substantially narrowed, leading to enhanced electrochemical activity and improved ion storage capability. Concurrently, the triphenylamine (TPA) moiety serves as an efficient redox‐active center, significantly accelerating the redox reaction kinetics. This unique charge asymmetry design achieves an alternating storage mechanism for cations and anions by synergistically enhancing redox activity and kinetic performance. As a result, assembled batteries can deliver high performance (356 Wh kg⁻¹ at 172.5 W kg⁻¹, with cycle stability of 10 000 cycles at 5 A g⁻¹). This study provides a novel design paradigm for high‐performance cathode materials by regulating the asymmetry of intramolecular charge distribution.

Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

Energy storage

OpenAlex topics: Advanced battery technologies research · Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies · Conducting polymers and applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Chemistry State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers Laboratory of Advanced Materials Shanghai Key Lab of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials Fudan University Shanghai 200438 P. R. China

State Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic Science and Technology Institute of Optoelectronics College of Future Information Technology Fudan University Shanghai 200438 P. R. China

Key Lab of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability School of Chemical Science and Engineering Tongji University Shanghai 200092 P. R. China

School of Chemical Engineering and Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering The University of New South Wales Sydney NSW 2052 Australia

CAS Key Laboratory of Bio‐Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science Technical Institute of Physics Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 P. R. China

Funding

National Key Research and Development Program of China · National Natural Science Foundation of China

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