A highly conjugated tetrakis-lawsone organic cathode material for enhancing the capacity utilization in the zinc-ion batteries

The search for better energy storage systems that are less expensive, resource-abundant, and safer has sparked intense research into zinc ion batteries (ZIBs). Organic materials, especially quinones-based ZIBs, improved the rate performances by providing structural flexibility for the movement of zinc ions. In this work, a highly conjugated quinone molecule, tetrakis-lawsone (TLS), with multiple active sites, was used to enhance the capacity of the ZIBs. The non-planar geometry of TLS due to the different orientations of all four lawsone units of TLS provided a sufficient void for the Zn²⁺ movement, making it a suitable host cathode material for the ZIBs.

Graphical abstract

TLS molecule consists of four LS units, which are aligned differently, thus, creating many empty void spaces in its matrix. Hence, it facilitates the Zn²⁺ ion movement within its lattice and thereby maximizes the utilization of TLS for energy storage.