Light-Assisted Rechargeable Lithium Batteries: Organic Molecules for Simultaneous Energy Harvesting and Storage

Lithium batteries that could be charged on exposure to sunlight will bring exciting new energy storage technologies. Here, we report a photorechargeable lithium battery employing nature-derived organic molecules as a photoactive and lithium storage electrode material. By absorbing sunlight of a desired frequency, lithiated tetrakislawsone electrodes generate electron-hole pairs. The holes oxidize the lithiated tetrakislawsone to tetrakislawsone while the generated electrons flow from the tetrakislawsone cathode to the Li metal anode. During electrochemical operation, the observed rise in charging current, specific capacity, and Coulombic efficiency under light irradiation in contrast to the absence of light indicates that the quinone-based organic electrode is acting as both photoactive and lithium storage material. Careful selection of electrode materials with optimal bandgap to absorb the intended frequency of sunlight and functional groups to accept Li-ions reversibly is a key to the progress of solar rechargeable batteries.

Automated summary

The study reports a photorechargeable lithium battery using nature-derived organic molecules as both photoactive and lithium storage electrode material, allowing charging through absorption of sunlight of a desired frequency. The dual functionality of the electrode material in both light absorption and lithium storage, with careful selection of optimal bandgap and Li-ion reversible functional groups, is crucial for the progress of solar rechargeable batteries.