Electrolyte Regulation toward Cathodes with Enhanced-Performance in Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Improving cathode performance is key for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs).
• Current research often focuses on cathode material structure, with electrolyte regulation primarily studied for metallic anodes.
• The role of electrolyte modulation in cathode performance remains under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the critical, yet overlooked, influence of electrolyte regulation on AZIB cathode performance.
• To systematically review and categorize the mechanisms by which electrolytes optimize cathode behavior.
• To provide a comprehensive understanding of electrolyte effects on cathodic reaction mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of electrolyte regulation strategies in AZIBs.
• Classification of electrolyte modulation mechanisms based on commonalities.
• Analysis of the impact of electrolyte properties on ionic transport and interfacial phenomena at the cathode.

Main Results:

• Electrolyte regulation strategies were classified into three primary categories: ion effect, solvating effect, and interfacial modulation effect.
• These mechanisms directly influence cathodic performance and reaction pathways.
• Understanding these effects is crucial for optimizing AZIB cathode design.

Conclusions:

• Electrolyte regulation is a vital strategy for enhancing AZIB cathode performance, comparable to material structure modification.
• The identified categories (ion, solvating, interfacial effects) offer a new framework for understanding and developing optimized electrolytes for cathodes.
• This work emphasizes the need for increased research focus on electrolyte-cathode interactions in AZIBs.