Constructing Ionic Self-Concentrated Electrolyte via Introducing Montmorillonite Toward High-Performance Aqueous...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Aqueous zinc batteries are a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries for large-scale energy storage.
• Key challenges include uniform zinc deposition and cathode material stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an ionic self-concentrated electrolyte (ISCE) for aqueous zinc batteries.
• To improve the cycle life and capacity of Zn/MnO2 batteries.

Main Methods:

• Design and synthesis of an ionic self-concentrated electrolyte (ISCE).
• Fabrication and testing of Zn/Zn symmetrical cells and Zn/MnO2 batteries.
• Electrochemical characterization including cycling stability and capacity retention.

Main Results:

• ISCE demonstrated compatibility with electrodes and adsorbed onto surfaces, guiding Zn deposition.
• Zn/Zn symmetrical batteries achieved over 5000 and 1500 hours of stability at 0.2 and 5 mA cm-2.
• Zn/MnO2 batteries delivered a high capacity of 351 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 and over 2000 cycles at 1 A g-1.

Conclusions:

• The ISCE is effective in enabling uniform Zn deposition and reversible MnO2 reactions.
• This electrolyte design offers a new strategy for developing stable and high-performance aqueous Zn-MnO2 batteries.
• The findings provide valuable insights for future electrolyte engineering in zinc-based energy storage systems.