The applicability of organic battery materials in conventional rocking-chair Li-ion cells remains deeply challenged by the lack of lithium-containing and air stable organic positive electrode chemistries. Decades-long experimental and theoretical research in the field resulted in only few recent examples of Li-reservoir materials, all relying on the archetypal carbonyl redox chemistry. Here, we extend the chemical space of organic Li-ion positive electrode materials with a new class of conjugated sulfonamides (CSA) and show that the electron delocalization on the sulfonyl groups endows the resulting CSAs with intrinsic oxidation and hydrolysis resistance while handled in ambient air, yet displaying reversible electrochemistry for charge storage. The formal redox potential of the uncovered CSAs chemistries spans a wide range between 2.85 -3.45 V (vs. Li + /Li 0 ), finely tuneable through electrostatic or inductive molecular design. This class of organic Li-ion positive electrode materials is the first one to consequentially challenge the inorganic battery cathodes realm, as this first generation of CSA chemistries already displays gravimetric energy storage metrics comparable to those of stereotypical LiFePO4.

A hydrogen-bond stabilized organic battery framework illustrated for 2,5-diamino-1,4-benzoquinone (DABQ), an electrically neutral and low mass organic chemical, yet with unusual thermal stability and low solubility in battery electrolytes.

A π-conjugated polymer is developed and shown to hold potential towards the development of organic redox ion- and electron-conducting materials for high-energy batteries.