Anti-aggregation triggering molecular transformation and boosting stable sodium storage

Aggregation and anti-aggregation are ubiquitous phenomena in nature, which can significantly affect the physical and chemical properties of the materials. However, the stability of materials in aggregates or anti-aggregates is often overlooked. Herein, a small molecule, 2,3,5,6-tetraamino-1,4-benzoquinone (TABQ) is reported as an electrode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Furthermore, we find the TABQ aggregates are air stable; however, they have poor cycle stability in SIBs. On the other hand, the anti-aggregation of TABQ triggers molecular transformation in air, whereas it boosts cycle stability and rate capability. The molecular transformation mechanism is well tracked by high-resolution mass spectroscopy. Anti-aggregation at the molecular level is vital for organic synthesis and such results are promising for deep understanding of aggregation and anti-aggregation toward efficient organic synthesis and high-performance applications.