Aqueous
rechargeable zinc batteries (ZBs) have received considerable
attention recently for large-scale energy storage systems in terms
of rate performance, cost, and safety. Nevertheless, these ZBs still
remain a subject for investigation, as researchers search for cathode
materials enabling high performance. Among the various candidate cathode
materials for ZBs, quinone compounds stand out as candidates because
of their high specific capacity, sustainability, and low cost. Quinone-based
cathodes, however, suffer from the critical limitation of undergoing
dissolution during battery cycling, leading to a deterioration in
battery life. To address this problem, we have introduced a redox-active
triangular phenanthrenequinone-based macrocycle (PQ-Δ) with a rigid geometry and layered superstructure. Notably, we have
confirmed that Zn2+ ions, together with H2O
molecules, can be inserted into the PQ-Δ organic
cathode, and, as a consequence, the interfacial resistance between
the cathode and electrolytes is decreased effectively. Density functional
theory calculations have revealed that the low interfacial resistance
can be attributed mainly to decreasing the desolvation energy penalty
as a result of the insertion of hydrated Zn2+ ions in the PQ-Δ cathode. The combined effects of the insertion
of hydrated Zn2+ ions and the robust triangular structure
of PQ-Δ serve to achieve a large reversible capacity
of 210 mAh g–1 at a high current density of 150
mA g–1, along with an excellent cycle-life, that
is, 99.9% retention after 500 cycles. These findings suggest that
the utilization of electron-active organic macrocycles, combined with
the low interfacial resistance associated with the solvation of divalent
carrier ions, is essential for the overall performance of divalent
battery systems.