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  • In Situ Electrochemical Act...
    Sun, Qi‐Qi; Sun, Tao; Du, Jia‐Yi; Xie, Zi‐Long; Yang, Dong‐Yue; Huang, Gang; Xie, Hai‐Ming; Zhang, Xin‐Bo

    Angewandte Chemie International Edition, August 28, 2023, Volume: 62, Issue: 35
    Journal Article

    The slow reaction kinetics and structural instability of organic electrode materials limit the further performance improvement of aqueous zinc‐organic batteries. Herein, we have synthesized a Z‐folded hydroxyl polymer polytetrafluorohydroquinone (PTFHQ) with inert hydroxyl groups that could be partially oxidized to the active carbonyl groups through the in situ activation process and then undertake the storage/release of Zn2+. In the activated PTFHQ, the hydroxyl groups and S atoms enlarge the electronegativity region near the electrochemically active carbonyl groups, enhancing their electrochemical activity. Simultaneously, the residual hydroxyl groups could act as hydrophilic groups to enhance the electrolyte wettability while ensuring the stability of the polymer chain in the electrolyte. Also, the Z‐folded structure of PTFHQ plays an important role in reversible binding with Zn2+ and fast ion diffusion. All these benefits make the activated PTFHQ exhibit a high specific capacity of 215 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, over 3400 stable cycles with a capacity retention of 92 %, and an outstanding rate capability of 196 mAh g−1 at 20 A g−1. A hydroxyl polymer PTFHQ has been designed to obtain electrochemical activity through an in situ electrochemical activation process. The synergistic effects of the different functional groups (C=O, −OH, and −S−) and the unique Z‐folded structure of the activated PTFHQ effectively improve its electrochemical activity and contribute to the rapid reaction kinetics, realizing the construction of high‐performance zinc‐organic batteries.