High-Energy and Long-Lasting Organic Electrode for a Rechargeable Aqueous Battery

Redox-active organic materials (ROMs) hold great promise as potential electrode materials for eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable batteries; however, the poor cycle stability arising from the chronic dissolution issue of the ROMs in generic battery systems has impeded their practical employment. Herein, we present that a rational selection of electrolytes considering the solubility tendency can unlock the hidden full redox capability of the DMPZ electrode (i.e., 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine) with unprecedentedly high reversibility. It is demonstrated that a multiredox activity of DMPZ/DMPZ+/DMPZ2+, which has been previously regarded to degrade with repeated cycles, in the newly designed electrolyte can be utilized with surprisingly robust cycle stability over 1000 cycles at 1C. This work signifies that tailoring the electrode–electrolyte compatibility can possibly unleash the hidden potential of many common ROMs, catalyzing the rediscovery of organic electrodes with long-lasting and high energy density.