Design of organic cathode material based on quinone and pyrazine motifs for rechargeable lithium and zinc batteries

Despite the rapid expansion of the organic cathode materials field, there is still a lack of materials obtained through facile synthesis that have stable cycling and high energy density. Herein, we report a two-step synthesis of small organic molecule from commercially available precursors that can be used as a cathode material. Oxidized tetraquinoxalinecatechol (OTQC) was derived from tetraquinoxalinecatechol (TQC) by the introduction of additional quinone redox active centers into the structure. The modification increased the voltage and capacity of the material. The OTQC delivers a high specific capacity of 327 mAhg-1 with an average voltage of 2.63 V vs. Li/Li+ in the Li-ion battery. That corresponds to an energy density of 860 Whkg-1 on the material level. Furthermore, the material demonstrated excellent cycling stability, having a capacity retention of 82 % after 400 cycles. Similarly, the OTQC demonstrates increased average voltage and specific capacity in comparison with TQC in Zn-organic battery using aqueous electrolyte, reaching the specific capacity of 326 mAhg-1 with an average voltage of 0.86 V vs. Zn/Zn2+. Apart from good electrochemical performance, this work provides an additional in-depth analysis of the redox mechanism and degradation mechanism related to capacity fading.