New HAT-TP organic cathode enables a 40,000-cycle zinc battery
A. Krivonosov
Researchers unveil a zinc battery with HAT-TP organic cathode: 40,000 cycles, 93.4% retention, 192.8 Wh/kg, safe aqueous electrolyte for EVs and home storage.
Researchers from China and Singapore have developed a zinc battery with an organic cathode that can withstand up to 40,000 charge cycles with only minimal capacity loss. After all tests, the cell retained 93.4% of its original capacity—roughly the equivalent of 16 million kilometers for an electric car with a 400-kilometer range. Numbers like that would reset expectations for how long a traction battery can stay useful.
The breakthrough hinges on a new three-dimensional polymer called HAT-TP, built from the organic compounds hexaazatrinaphthylene and triptycene. This architecture enhances the cathode’s conductivity and stability, tackling the dissolution issues that hampered earlier generations of organic batteries.
In testing, the unit delivered an initial voltage of 1.32 V and nearly 100% coulombic efficiency. Safety also takes center stage: it uses an aqueous electrolyte and contains no flammable materials, which removes the risk of ignition. For energy storage in cars or at home, that kind of safety margin matters as much as the headline figures.
With a specific energy of 192.8 Wh/kg, the newcomer sits between today’s LFP and NCM cells. Thanks to its straightforward chemistry, the absence of toxic metals, and recyclability, this approach has the makings of a breakthrough not only for electric vehicles but also for household energy storage systems. Pairing mid-pack energy density with extraordinary cycle life is a combination that’s hard to ignore.
The team also notes that their method could be applied to other chemistries—such as lithium–sulfur or sodium-ion—pointing toward durable, environmentally friendly power sources for the next generation.
