Publication date: 15th December 2025
A unique monolithic photo-rechargeable Zn-ion battery (PR-ZIB), integrating a non-aqueous ZIB with perovskite (PSK) solar cell modified with Diphenyl ammonium iodide(DPAI). Engineered for simultaneous solar energy harvesting and storage, this compact platform redefines energy self-sufficiency. In ZIB the energy storage material is a composite of V5S8 nanoflowers (NFs)/activated carbon (AC) which delivers a specific capacity of 204 mAh g-1 at 30 mA g-1, and demonstrates dendrite-free cycling stability with 88% capacity retention over 100 cycles. At a higher current density of 120 mA g-1, the battery maintained a coulombic efficiency of ~98% and 73% capacity retention over 270 cycles, showcasing excellent electrochemical stability. Solar cell containing Cs0.1FA0.9PbI3-DPAI as photoactive material achieves an 8.6% power conversion efficiency, enhanced by 30.2% over the DPAI-free configuration. This air-stable architecture employes a carbon-based hole transport layer that doubles as the top contact. Integration of ZIB and solar cell leads to efficient direct photo-generated hole injection into the battery cathode enables the PR-ZIB to be photo-charged to 0.9 V in just 12 minutes under illumination, with no external bias. It delivers a discharge capacity of 135 mAh g-1 under dark, maximum specific energy and power of 94.5 Wh kg-1 and 21 W kg-1 coupled with an overall conversion and storage efficiency of 4.2% under 1 sun irradiance at 30 mA g-1. It also demonstrates a discharging capacity of ~174 mAh g-1 under illumination, confirming enhanced ion-storage driven by injection of holes from the PSK into the V5S8 NFs/AC cathode. This study also aims to explain the mechanistic pathways of photogenerated electrons and holes as well as Zn2+ ions under a range of conditions spanning dark, illuminated, biased and unbiased states, with attention on the often-overlooked fate of holes in photo-batteries which helps in providing critical insights into underlying mechanisms for enhanced light-assisted ion-storage capacities.
Financial support from the project: “DST-Materials MAP”, project reference: DST/TMD/IC-MAP/2K20/03 (C), funded by Technology Mission Division (Energy, Water & all Others), Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India and PMRF scheme is gratefully acknowledged by the authors.
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