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Zinc-Sponge Battery Electrodes that Suppress Dendrites
Published on: September 29, 2020
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Avoiding short circuits from zinc metal dendrites in anode by backside-plating configuration
Shougo Higashi1,2, Seok Woo Lee1,3, Jang Soo Lee1
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, 476 Lomita Mall, McCullough Building 343, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
Nature Communications
|June 7, 2016
Summary
A new backside-plating method prevents zinc dendrite formation in zinc metal batteries, enabling 800 stable cycles. This breakthrough addresses internal shorting issues for long-term battery performance and cost-effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Zinc metal batteries offer high energy density and low cost, making them attractive for portable power and grid storage.
- A major challenge is zinc dendrite formation during plating/stripping, leading to battery short circuits and reduced lifespan.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel configuration for zinc metal anodes that prevents dendrite formation and enables long-term stable cycling.
- To demonstrate the efficacy of this method in nickel-zinc batteries.
Main Methods:
- Implementation of a backside-plating configuration for zinc metal anodes.
- Cycling tests of nickel-zinc batteries utilizing the backside-plating anode.
Main Results:
- Achieved 800 stable charge-discharge cycles in nickel-zinc batteries without internal shorting.
- Demonstrated good power rate capability (20 mA cm⁻², 20 C rate) with the modified anodes.
Conclusions:
- The backside-plating configuration effectively suppresses zinc dendrite growth, resolving a critical issue in zinc metal batteries.
- This plating strategy is applicable to other metal-based electrode systems prone to internal short circuits, broadening its potential impact.
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