Low‐Temperature and High‐Areal‐Capacity Rechargeable Lithium Batteries enabled by π‐Conjugated Systems

Abstract High mass loading and high areal capacity are essential for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) with high energy density, but they usually suffer from the sluggish charge‐transfer kinetic of thick electrodes, especially at low temperature. Here, organic molecule perylene‐3,4,9,10‐tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) has been investigated as a feasible cathode for high areal capacity rechargeable LIBs operated at low temperature. Specifically, the charge storage process mainly occurs on the surface redox‐active groups of PTCDA, resulting in a fast kinetics of charge storage. Meanwhile, the delocalization of electrons in the π‐conjugated systems of PTCDA could enhance the electron transportation prominently. Consequently, the Li‐PTCDA battery with a high mass loading of 14.35 mg cm −2 delivers a high reversible areal capacity of 1.06 mAh cm −2 at −40 °C. This work demonstrates a great potential of π‐conjugated organic materials for low temperature and high‐areal‐capacity rechargeable LIBs.