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Zinc-Sponge Battery Electrodes that Suppress Dendrites
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Stabilizing Zinc Anodes by a Uniform Nucleation Process with Cysteine Additive
Pengjie Jiang1, Qijun Du1, Min Shi1
1State Key Laboratory of Chem/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Advanced Catalytic Engineering Research Center of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China.
Small Methods
|August 23, 2023
Summary
Cysteine additive in aqueous batteries prevents zinc dendrite growth by altering zinc nucleation and creating a stable interface. This enhances battery cycling stability and lifespan.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Zinc anodes in aqueous batteries suffer from dendrite growth and interfacial instability, limiting battery performance and lifespan.
- Developing stable and efficient zinc anodes is crucial for advancing rechargeable aqueous battery technology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of cysteine as an electrolyte additive for improving zinc anode performance in aqueous batteries.
- To understand the mechanism by which cysteine influences zinc nucleation and deposition.
Main Methods:
- Electrolyte modification with cysteine.
- Analysis of electrolyte-anode interface properties (surface tension, contact angle).
- Investigation of zinc nucleation and deposition behavior using electrochemical techniques.
- Long-term cycling tests of zinc anodes in aqueous batteries.
Main Results:
- Cysteine addition alters electrolyte-anode interfacial properties, leading to smaller, more dispersed zinc nuclei.
- Smooth and uniform zinc electrodeposition is achieved, suppressing dendrite formation.
- Cysteine creates a stable interface, preventing side reactions and corrosion during plating/stripping.
- Batteries with cysteine-modified electrolytes exhibit significantly enhanced cycling stability and extended lifespan.
Conclusions:
- Cysteine is an effective additive for stabilizing zinc anodes in aqueous batteries.
- The mechanism involves controlled zinc nucleation and improved interfacial stability, preventing dendrites and corrosion.
- This approach offers a promising strategy for developing high-performance and long-lasting aqueous zinc batteries.
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