Rechargeable Zn/Sn-air batteries have received considerable attention as promising energy storage devices. However, the electrochemical performance of these batteries is significantly constrained by the sluggish electrocatalytic reaction kinetics at the cathode. The integration of light energy into Zn/Sn-air batteries is a promising strategy for enhancing their performance. However, the photothermal and photoelectric effects generate heat in the battery under prolonged solar irradiation, leading to air cathode instability. This paper presents the first design and synthesis of Ni2-1,5-diamino-4,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone (Ni2DDA), an electronically conductive π-d conjugated metal–organic framework (MOF). Ni2DDA exhibits both photoelectric and photothermal effects, with an optical band gap of ~1.14 eV. Under illumination, Ni2DDA achieves excellent oxygen evolution reaction performance (with an overpotential of 245 mV vs. reversible hydrogen electrode at 10 mA cm−2) and photothermal stability. These properties result from the synergy between the photoelectric and photothermal effects of Ni2DDA. Upon integration into Zn/Sn-air batteries, Ni2DDA ensures excellent cycling stability under light and exhibits remarkable performance in high-temperature environments up to 80°C. This study experimentally confirms the stable operation of photo-assisted Zn/Sn-air batteries under high-temperature conditions for the first time and provides novel insights into the application of electronically conductive MOFs in photoelectrocatalysis and photothermal catalysis.
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2025 The Author(s). Carbon Energy published by Wenzhou University and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.
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