High-performance Zn(ii)-based coordination polymer as an electrode material for pseudocapacitive energy storage and hydrogen evolution†

Recently, multifunctional materials for energy storage and production have been investigated to address diverse energy challenges. However, innovative methodologies focusing on the design and synthesis of novel materials remain essential to effectively tackle persistent challenges such as material degradation, high overpotentials, low conductivity, inferior cycling performance, elevated resistance, and high production costs. Working along these lines, we report a simplistic gram-scale synthesis, characterization, and excellent electrochemical behavior of a Zn(II)-based coordination polymer (COP) abbreviated as Zn(DAB). It has been obtained in quantitative yields through a facile one-pot reaction between N₄-ligand, 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB), and Zn(II) ions, derived from Zn(OAc)₂·2H₂O, at room temperature. The proposed structure of the COP was established through a series of standard spectroscopic and electron microscopic analyses. These methods unveiled the self-assembly of indefinitely long coordination strands, resulting in a two-dimensional (2D) layered structure. Zn(DAB), when probed for its electrochemical characteristics, reveals exemplary results. The material showed a high specific capacitance of 2091.4 F g⁻¹, calculated at 1 A g⁻¹ with 92% retention over 5000 charge–discharge cycles. Additionally, the COP also exhibited a subservient overpotential of 263 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² for the hydrogen evolution reaction. These results highlight the promising potential of Zn(DAB) as a multifunctional electrode material for sustainable energy applications.