Electrical engineering

Physics

Electrode

Organic chemistry

Separator (oil production)

Energy storage

Biology

Anode

Engineering

Environmentally friendly

Physical chemistry

Organic radical battery

Power (physics)

Aqueous solution

Chemistry

Ecology

Materials science

Computer science

Cathode

Battery (electricity)

Quantum mechanics

Electrolyte

Electrochemistry

Supercapacitor

Thermodynamics

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Rechargeable batteries have been used to power various electric devices and store energy from renewables, but their toxic components (namely, electrode materials, electrolyte, and separator) generally cause serious environment issues when disused. Such toxicity characteristic makes them difficult to power future wearable electronic devices. Now an environmentally friendly and highly safe rechargeable battery, based on a pyrene-4,5,9,10-tetraone (PTO) cathode and zinc anode in mild aqueous electrolyte is presented. The PTO-cathode shows a high specific capacity (336 mAh g-1 ) for Zn2+ storage with fast kinetics and high reversibility. Thus, the PTO//Zn full cell exhibits a high energy density (186.7 Wh kg-1 ), supercapacitor-like power behavior and long-term lifespan (over 1000 cycles). Moreover, a belt-shaped PTO//Zn battery with robust mechanical durability and remarkable flexibility is first fabricated to clarify its potential application in wearable electronic devices.

An Environmentally Friendly and Flexible Aqueous Zinc Battery Using an Organic Cathode