Enhancing zinc anode stability via dual-additive electrolyte engineering

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Zinc anodes are crucial for high-energy-density batteries but suffer from poor stability and dendrite formation.
• Developing stable electrolytes is key to unlocking the full potential of zinc-based energy storage devices.
• Current strategies often face limitations in long-term performance and efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel dual-additive electrolyte strategy for enhancing zinc anode stability.
• To investigate the synergistic effects of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and potassium iodide (KI) on zinc deposition.
• To improve the cycle life and performance of zinc-ion hybrid capacitors.

Main Methods:

• Electrolyte formulation with specific concentrations of NADH and KI.
• Electrochemical characterization including cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
• Long-term cycling tests of zinc-ion hybrid capacitors with the optimized electrolyte.

Main Results:

• NADH forms a protective anti-corrosion layer on the zinc anode surface via specific adsorption.
• Potassium iodide (KI) addition homogenizes the zinc ion (Zn2+) flux, promoting uniform zinc deposition.
• The optimized dual-additive electrolyte enabled zinc-ion hybrid capacitors to achieve stable cycling for over 20,000 cycles.

Conclusions:

• The dual-additive electrolyte strategy effectively enhances zinc anode stability and longevity.
• Synergistic action of NADH and KI is crucial for improved electrochemical performance.
• This approach offers a promising pathway for developing high-performance and durable zinc-ion hybrid capacitors.