Lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) shrewdly combine a lithium-ion battery negative electrode capable of reversibly intercalating lithium cations, namely graphite, together with an electrical double-layer positive electrode, namely activated carbon. However, the beauty of this concept is marred by the lack of a lithium-cation source in the device, thus requiring a specific preliminary charging step. The strategies devised thus far in an attempt to rectify this issue all present drawbacks. Our research uncovers a unique approach based on the use of a lithiated organic material, namely 3,4-dihydroxybenzonitrile dilithium salt. This compound can irreversibly provide lithium cations to the graphite electrode during an initial operando charging step without any negative effects with respect to further operation of the LIC. This method not only restores the low CO₂ footprint of LICs, but also possesses far-reaching potential with respect to designing a wide range of greener hybrid devices based on other chemistries, comprising entirely recyclable components.

锂离子电容器（LIC）巧妙地将能够可逆地嵌入锂阳离子（即石墨）的锂离子电池负极与双电层正极（即活性炭）结合在一起。但是，由于设备中缺少锂阳离子源，因此损害了该概念的美感，因此需要特定的预充电步骤。迄今为止，为纠正这一问题而设计的策略都存在弊端。我们的研究发现了一种基于锂化有机材料的独特方法，即3,4-二羟基苄腈二锂盐。在初始操作过程中，该化合物可以不可逆地向石墨电极提供锂阳离子充电步骤，不会对LIC的进一步操作产生任何负面影响。该方法不仅恢复了LICs的低CO ₂足迹，而且在设计基于其他化学成分的，范围更广的绿色混合动力装置方面具有深远的潜力，这些装置包括完全可回收的组件。