An H₂O₂-charging aqueous zinc-polyaniline battery

Self-charging power systems that integrate energy harvesting devices and batteries are attracting much attention in energy technologies. Herein, we designed H₂O₂-charging aqueous Zn/polyaniline (PANI) batteries by utilizing the redox potential difference between H₂O₂ and the discharged PANI, realizing the chemical charging of the batteries without an external power supply. Owing to the high redox potential and solubility of H₂O₂ in aqueous electrolytes, Zn/PANI batteries display an ultrafast H₂O₂-charging rate. Furthermore, the H₂O₂-charging Zn/PANI batteries exhibit excellent cycling stability due to the highly reversible redox behavior and stable structure of PANI cathodes. Their capacity can be controlled by the additive amount of H₂O₂ and the output voltage can remain stable during the discharge process. Impressively, such H₂O₂-charging batteries can combine multiple charging modes, improving their environmental adaptability. In addition, they can be designed for H₂O₂ single-flow batteries to extend the long-term energy supply and deliver long-term power output as well as excellent scalability. This work will broaden the horizons of self-powering systems.