Aromatic organic molecular crystal with enhanced π-π stacking interaction for ultrafast Zn-ion storage

Aqueous zinc batteries are promising in daily quick energy storage, but their commercialization is limited by the poor rate capability and low capacity of Zn-ion hosts, especially at practical-level mass loadings (>10 milligrams per square centimeter). This work reports a kind of aromatic organic molecular crystal, 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, as an ultrahigh-rate host for Zn ions by enhancing the pi-pi stacking interaction to promote its ion transport kinetics. The interconnected layered structure with strong pi-pi stacking interaction enables fast electron transportation, and 1-D ion tunnels provide highways for rapid ion transportation. A zinc battery using such a host material displays high-rate capability (62.6% capacity remains from 1.6 C to 260.4 C), superior power density (14.8 kW kg(-1)) and excellent energy storage capacity reservation at high mass loading (83.6% capacity remains from 2.5 mg cm(-2) to 12.3 mg cm(-2)), providing insight into host design for achieving ultrafast Zn-ion storage toward practical applications.