Non-covalent functionalization of 2,5-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone and hydroquinone on reduced graphene oxide sheets led to the formation of a redox-active three-dimensional gel architecture via a one-step hydrothermal method, where the former exhibited high gravimetric and volumetric capacitance and 99% capacitance retention after 25 000 cycles at 50 mV s⁻¹.

Dilithium 2,6-naphthalene di-carboxylate has been synthesized starting from the acid and lithium hydroxide using a freeze drying process which gives rise to superior electrochemical performances. This negative electrode material reacts reversibly with Li⁺ at a redox potential of ca. 0.88 V, and exhibits not only a total gravimetric of ca. 200 mAh.g⁻¹ but also shows high rate capability. The improved cyclability of the electrode at high rate stems from the π-extension of the core unit separating the two redox active carboxylate groups. Such a finding should serve as an impetus to design dicarboxylate-based molecules based on core units having extended aromatic character for better electronic transport.

To meet current market demands as well as emerging environmental concerns there is a need to develop less polluting battery technologies. Organic electrode materials could offer the possibility of preparing electrode materials from naturally more abundant elements and eco-friendly processes coupled with simplified recycling management. However, the potential use of organic electrode materials for energy storage is still challenging and a lot of developments remain to be achieved. For instance, promoting high-energy Li-ion organic batteries inevitably requires the development of lithiated organic electrode materials which are able to be charged (delithiated) at a high enough potential (>3 V vs. Li⁺/Li⁰) – a challenging point rarely discussed in the literature. Here, we evaluate tetralithium 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzenedisulfonate as an air-stable lithiated cathode material for the first time and its reversible Li⁺ electrochemical extraction. Quite interestingly, in comparison with the dicarboxylate counterpart, it was observed that the theoretical two-electron reaction is readily reached with this organic structure and at an average operating potential of 650 mV higher.

A high-rate cycling lithium carboxylate-based organic anode material using perylene core as a platform for stabilization is described. The hyper-conjugated core unit of perylene associated with lithium carboxylate confers the electrode an outstanding rate capability without any electrode formulation engineering, maintaining over 120 mA h g⁻¹ gravimetric capacity after one hundred cycles at 5 Li⁺/1 h rate.