Relay Storage of Protons and Zinc Ions Enables Practical High‐Mass‐Loading Organic Electrodes

X Xiaomeng Yu S Shouyi Yuan (Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Institute of New Energy, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials) Fudan University Shanghai China) L Lei Yan (Department of Materials Science and Engineering) T Taoyi Kong (Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Institute of New Energy, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials) Fudan University Shanghai China) K Kang Zhou Y Yae Qi (Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Institute of New Energy, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials) Fudan University Shanghai China) Q Qiang Zhu (School of Science and Molecular Horizons, ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology) Z Zhi Li P Penglin Wang (National Engineering Research Center for Integrated Utilization of Salt Lake Resources Engineering Research Center of Salt Lake Resources Process Engineering Ministry of Education East China University of Science and Technology Shanghai China) S Shuai Gu (College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan Key Laboratory of Micro & Nano Materials Interface Science) J Jing Ma (State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry) Y Yonggang Wang (Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, College of Smart Materials and Future Energy, Laboratory of Advanced Materials)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Rechargeable Zn–organic batteries hold great promise for sustainable energy storage, yet most reported high performances are achieved only at low mass loadings (2–3 mg cm −2 ), far from practical application. Here, we investigate poly(benzoquinonyl sulfide) (PBQS) electrodes working in a water‐in‐salt electrolyte and reveal that PBQS first undergoes faradaic proton insertion during discharge, which is subsequently displaced by Zn 2+ , releasing protons back into the electrolyte. This dynamic relay allows a small amount of H + to cycle repeatedly, acting as a kinetic buffer that offset the sluggish diffusion of Zn 2+ . Owing to this mechanism and PBQS's high conductivity, a low‐carbon (10 wt.%) PBQS electrode with an ultrahigh mass loading of 100 mg cm −2 delivers a capacity of 187.1 mAh g −1 (∼96% of low‐loading capacity) and achieves a record areal capacity of 18 mAh cm −2 . The electrode also exhibits excellent rate capability and cycling stability, suggesting its strong potential for practical applications.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 13
Published March 23, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (12)

X

Xiaomeng Yu

S

Shouyi Yuan

Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Institute of New Energy, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials) Fudan University Shanghai China

L

Lei Yan

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

T

Taoyi Kong

Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Institute of New Energy, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials) Fudan University Shanghai China

K

Kang Zhou

Y

Yae Qi

Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Institute of New Energy, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials) Fudan University Shanghai China

Q

Qiang Zhu

School of Science and Molecular Horizons, ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology

Z

Zhi Li

P

Penglin Wang

National Engineering Research Center for Integrated Utilization of Salt Lake Resources Engineering Research Center of Salt Lake Resources Process Engineering Ministry of Education East China University of Science and Technology Shanghai China

S

Shuai Gu

College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan Key Laboratory of Micro & Nano Materials Interface Science

J

Jing Ma

State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry

Y

Yonggang Wang

Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, College of Smart Materials and Future Energy, Laboratory of Advanced Materials