Trace amount of taurine leveling agent for stable Zn anode

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) offer cost-effectiveness, eco-friendliness, and safety for next-generation energy storage.
• Practical AZIB application is hindered by zinc metal anode challenges, including dendrite formation and interfacial side reactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce taurine (TAU) as an electrolyte additive to improve zinc anode performance in AZIBs.
• To optimize anode microstructure and interfacial chemistry for enhanced battery stability and longevity.

Main Methods:

• Incorporation of trace amounts of taurine (TAU) into the electrolyte of aqueous zinc-ion battery systems.
• Analysis of the effect of TAU on zinc deposition microstructure and interfacial layer formation.
• Electrochemical testing of Zn//Zn symmetric cells, Zn//Cu asymmetric cells, and Zn//MnO2 full cells.

Main Results:

• Taurine promotes the in situ formation of a stable interfacial layer, refining Zn deposition and guiding uniform Zn2+ plating.
• TAU regulates electrolyte hydrogen bonding, reducing water activity and inhibiting hydrogen evolution side reactions.
• Zn//Zn symmetric cells achieved over 1150 cycles (1 mA cm-2) and 600 cycles (10 mA cm-2); Zn//Cu cells showed 1400 cycles (1 mA cm-2) with 99.4% CE.

Conclusions:

• Taurine effectively suppresses dendrite growth and interfacial side reactions in AZIBs by optimizing anode interface and electrolyte properties.
• The addition of TAU significantly enhances the cycling stability and coulombic efficiency of zinc metal anodes.
• These findings provide a robust strategy for advancing the industrial viability of aqueous zinc-ion batteries.