An Antiaromatic Electrode-Active Material Enabling High Capacity and Stable Performance of Rechargeable Batteries

Although aromatic compounds occupy a central position in organic chemistry, antiaromatic compounds have demonstrated little practical utility. Herein we report the application of an antiaromatic compound as an electrode‐active material in rechargeable batteries. The performance of dimesityl‐substituted norcorrole nickel(II) complex (NiNC) as a cathode‐active material was examined with a Li metal anode. A maximum discharge capacity of about 207 mAhg−1 was maintained after 100 charge/discharge cycles. Moreover, the bipolar redox property of NiNC enables the construction of a Li metal free rechargeable battery. The high performance of NiNC batteries demonstrates a prospective feature of stable antiaromatic compounds as electrode‐active materials. The balance of power: A discharge capacity of greater than 200 mA h g−1 over 100 charge/discharge cycles was found for a rechargeable battery with an antiaromatic norcorrole NiII complex (NiNC) as a cathode‐active material and a Li metal anode. The bipolar redox property of NiNC also enabled the construction of a Li metal free rechargeable battery with high discharge capacity (see scheme) and good cycle performance.