A Breakthrough in Organic Lithium Batteries: Stable Performance from -70°C to 80°C

A research team led by Professor Xu Yunhua from Tianjin University, in collaboration with Professor Huang Fei’s team at South China University of Technology and other institutions, has successfully developed a new type of organic cathode material, overcoming long-standing bottlenecks that have limited the practical application of traditional organic lithium batteries, such as low energy capacity and slow charging. The findings were published online on February 19 (Beijing time) in the international academic journalNature.

In the wave of technological revolution and energy transition, lithium batteries have become the "energy heart" of modern society, playing an increasingly vital role. Currently, most mainstream lithium battery cathodes are made from inorganic minerals such as cobalt and nickel, which face multiple challenges including resource scarcity, high cost, and limited flexibility. In contrast, organic electrode materials offer advantages such as abundant sources, flexible molecular design, and inherent softness. However, batteries using these materials often suffer from insufficient energy capacity or slow charging, significantly hindering their path to commercialization.

To address this dilemma, the research team built upon a novel conductive polymer material and systematically optimized the "synergistic transport" efficiency of electrons and lithium ions within the material. This led to the successful development of an organic cathode material that combines excellent electronic conductivity, rapid lithium-ion transport, and high energy storage capacity.

Using this material, the team fabricated an organic pouch cell with an energy density exceeding 250 watt-hours per kilogram—surpassing the widely used lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. The battery demonstrated remarkable temperature adaptability, operating stably across a wide range from -70°C to 80°C. It also exhibited good flexibility and safety.

Performance chart of the organic pouch cell. (Image provided by Tianjin University)

Experiments showed that the electrodes remained undamaged under bending, stretching, and external compression, with no loss of capacity. Furthermore, the pouch cell passed rigorous nail penetration safety tests, confirming its safety performance.

Professor Xu Yunhua noted that these achievements lay a critical material foundation for the future development of "green batteries." The material’s flexible characteristics also open up new energy storage solutions for emerging fields such as flexible electronics and wearable devices.

According to reports, the team is accelerating efforts to translate the technology into practical applications and promote industrialization. They are working to establish production lines for organic pouch cells and actively exploring their commercial potential.