Cyclohexanedodecol-Assisted Interfacial Engineering for Robust and High-Performance Zinc Metal Anode.

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) offer a sustainable, low-cost alternative to conventional batteries.
• Key challenges hindering AZIB practical application include zinc dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution, and anode passivation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a dual-functional organic additive, cyclohexanedodecol (CHD), to stabilize the zinc anode in AZIBs.
• To elucidate the protective mechanism of CHD on the zinc anode surface and in the electrolyte.

Main Methods:

• Complex ion formation ([Zn(H2O)5(CHD)]2+) in aqueous electrolyte.
• Surface protection layer formation on the zinc anode.
• Systematic experimental testing and theoretical calculations.
• Electrochemical performance evaluation of AZIB full cells with V2O5 cathode.

Main Results:

• CHD at 0.1 mg mL-1 enables over 2200 hours of stable Zn plating/stripping at 2 mA cm-2.
• AZIB full cells with CHD exhibit a capacity of 175 mAh g-1 and 92% retention after 2000 cycles at 2 A g-1.
• CHD effectively suppresses dendrite growth and anode corrosion.

Conclusions:

• CHD acts as a highly effective dual-functional additive for stabilizing zinc anodes in AZIBs.
• The developed CHD-modified electrolyte significantly improves the cycling stability and performance of AZIBs.
• This advancement paves the way for the commercialization of AZIBs in grid and industrial energy storage.