Structural regulation strategies toward high performance organic materials for next generation aqueous Zn-based batteries

Abstract Environmental degradation has promoted the exploitation of novel energy-storage devices. Electrochemical energy technologies, including supercapacitors and aqueous batteries, are highly desirable for energy storage applications. Among them, aqueous zinc-based batteries (AZBs) are highly valued because of their inherent safety and low cost. One class of emerging materials favorably employed in these devices are organic cathodes, featuring resource renewability, cost-effectiveness, and adjustable electrochemical properties via facile structural modification compared to the conventional inorganic cathodes. To date, various types of organic compounds have been developed and applied to AZIBs. This paper comprehensively reviews the mechanisms involved in organic electrode material reactions, highlighting the structural modifications, including morphological, molecular, functional group, crystal, and electronic structures, affecting the final device performance. Conclusively, the prospects of practical applications of zinc/organic aqueous battery are delineated.