SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3704-0
The escalating demand for energy storage systems capable of delivering high energy density alongside ultrafast charging and discharging has exposed the limitations of conventional lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), particularly in applications such as electric air vehicles, portable medical devices, and grid-scale storage. Organic cathode materials offer tunable molecular design but suffer from sluggish ion diffusion kinetics, especially under high-rate and low-temperature conditions. This study introduces a 2D vertically ladder-like polymer (2DVLP) synthesized from tribenzoquinoline tribenzoquinone (TTQ) via a 2D polymerization strategy. The polymer features a layered nanosheet structure with densely distributed carbonyl (C=O) redox-active sites serving as Li+ storage centers. Interlayer micropores (0.4–2.0 nm) and structural defects facilitate vertical Li+ diffusion, while weak van der Waals interlayer interactions (no π–π stacking) enable horizontal Li+ intercalation. Coin-type half-cells using 2DVLP cathodes demonstrated outstanding room-temperature performance: 2DVLP-1 and 2DVLP-2 achieved specific capacities of 302 and 291 mAh g−1 at low current densities, respectively. The cross-flow design—combining vertical and horizontal ion transport pathways—effectively mitigates concentration polarization, enabling ultrafast charging. This work provides a scalable strategy for developing high-power organic cathodes, addressing critical bottlenecks in fast-charging energy storage.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3986-2
Organic/molecular ferroelectrics exhibiting spontaneous polarization have attracted increasing attention due to their flexibility, light weight, low-temperature processability, environmental friendliness, and biocompatibility. Among them, organic donor-acceptor cocrystals, self-assembled from two or more components, offer new insights into ferroelectricity. This review systematically examines recent progress in organic donor-acceptor cocrystal ferroelectrics, focusing on microscopic origins of ferroelectricity, structure modulation strategies, and underlying mechanisms. Ferroelectric origin mechanisms, including intermolecular charge transfer, proton transfer, and order-disorder transitions, are analyzed in detail. Structure-property relationships in crystal engineering are summarized, and recent advances in theoretical simulations, experimental characterization techniques, and practical applications are introduced. Finally, current challenges and future research perspectives are outlined. The review highlights that weak intermolecular interactions often lead to low Curie temperatures (Tc), limiting practical applications. Strategies to enhance Tc involve introducing stronger molecular interactions to increase transition energy barriers. Notably, room-temperature ferroelectricity in organic cocrystals has been achieved, as demonstrated by Wiscons et al. (Angew Chem Int Ed, 2018, 57: 9044–9047). The review underscores the potential of organic cocrystal ferroelectrics for flexible and wearable electronics, while addressing the need for higher Tc and robust switching performance.