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Zinc-Sponge Battery Electrodes that Suppress Dendrites
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Ethanol as Solvent Additives with Competitive Effect for High-Stable Aqueous Zinc Batteries
Zhuocheng Tian1,2, Hang Liu1,3, Mengyuan Cheng1,3
1State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Center of Smart Materials and Devices, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, P.R. China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|April 18, 2024
Summary
A novel cosolvent strategy using ethanol in aqueous zinc-ion batteries significantly enhances cyclic stability by suppressing water activity and dendrite growth. This approach enables highly reversible zinc deposition for durable energy storage.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) offer sustainable energy storage but suffer from poor cyclic stability.
- Parasitic reactions and zinc dendrite growth, driven by water, limit AZIB performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a cosolvent strategy to improve the stability and performance of AZIBs.
- To address challenges of water activity and dendrite formation at the zinc anode.
Main Methods:
- Employing ethanol as a cosolvent in the electrolyte based on competitive effects.
- Investigating the role of ethanol in minimizing water activity and improving Zn surface wettability.
- Analyzing the in situ formation of an organic-inorganic hybrid solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI).
Main Results:
- Ethanol addition effectively reduces water activity and inhibits zinc dendrite growth.
- A stable hybrid SEI layer is formed, promoting reversible zinc deposition and suppressing water corrosion.
- Enhanced Zn2+ diffusion and improved cycling stability were observed in various cell configurations.
Conclusions:
- The cosolvent strategy with ethanol provides a universal approach for dendrite-free and highly reversible zinc anodes.
- This method significantly enhances the long-term durability of aqueous zinc-ion batteries.
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