Zinc anode with artificial solid electrolyte interface for dendrite-free Ni-Zn secondary battery

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Rechargeable nickel-zinc batteries offer high energy density and safety but are limited by zinc anode instability.
• Zinc dendrite growth and metal dissolution in alkaline electrolytes cause poor cycle life.
• Addressing these issues is crucial for widespread adoption of nickel-zinc battery technology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a stable zinc anode for rechargeable nickel-zinc batteries.
• To mitigate zinc dendrite formation and dissolution using an artificial solid electrolyte interface (ASEI).
• To enhance the overall cycle stability and performance of nickel-zinc batteries.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of an artificial solid electrolyte interface (ASEI) on a zinc anode using tin-zinc foil rolling-tearing and lead salt solution treatment.
• Characterization of the ASEI's composition and protective properties.
• Electrochemical testing of the modified zinc anode in a nickel-zinc battery configuration.

Main Results:

• The lead-based ASEI effectively prevented zinc anode dissolution.
• The lead and residual tin components enhanced hydrogen evolution over-potential.
• The modified zinc anode demonstrated excellent cycling performance up to 100 cycles with 90% capacity retention.
• High reversible capacities were achieved with the ASEI-protected zinc anode.

Conclusions:

• The facilely constructed ASEI provides an efficient protective layer for zinc anodes.
• The ASEI strategy significantly improves the cycle stability and electrochemical performance of rechargeable nickel-zinc batteries.
• This approach offers a promising solution for overcoming the limitations of zinc anodes in energy storage applications.