Abstract Lithium-ion (LiBs) and sodium-ion batteries (NaBs) are vital for energy storage but suffer at low temperatures due to electrolyte solidification, low ionic conductivity, and high interfacial resistance. Organic electrode materials offer advantages such as low cost, tunable structures, and flexibility, yet are limited by poor conductivity and solubility. Here, we report a facilely synthesized small-molecule organic cathode, PMDI-2AQ , derived from pyromellitic dianhydride and 2-aminoanthraquinone, designed to enhance intermolecular interactions and reduce solubility. In LiBs, PMDI-2AQ cathode delivers 240 mAh g⁻¹ with 72% retention over 200 cycles (100 mA g⁻¹), and high rate capability (130 mAh g⁻¹ at 500 mA g⁻¹ over 1000 cycles). It also shows promising NaB performance (207 mAh g⁻¹, 54% retention over 100 cycles). Notably, 85% capacity is retained at −40 °C after 100 cycles, enabled by an optimized electrolyte that improves ion transport and interfacial kinetics. These results highlight the potential of small-molecule organic cathodes for scalable, high-performance batteries in extreme environments.
Baskoro et al. (Wed,) studied this question.