Phosphorylation Regulation Promotes Bidirectional Dynamic Adaptive Interface for Achieving Stable Zn-I₂ Batteries

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Zinc-iodine (Zn-I2) batteries face performance limitations due to unstable electrode-electrolyte interfaces.
• Key issues include polyiodide shuttling, parasitic anodic corrosion, and zinc dendrite growth.
• These interfacial instabilities hinder long-term cycling stability and overall battery efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a phosphorylation strategy for creating dynamically adaptive, water-lean interfaces in Zn-I2 batteries.
• To enhance the stability and performance of Zn-I2 batteries for long-term applications.
• To investigate the role of phosphorylation in mitigating interfacial degradation mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of phosphorylation regulation to modify electrode-electrolyte interfaces.
• Characterization of interfacial properties, including adsorption capabilities and pH-balancing.
• Evaluation of battery performance through extended cycling tests, coulombic efficiency measurements, and durability assessments.

Main Results:

• Phosphorylation significantly improved the adsorption capability on the zinc anode and provided pH-balancing.
• Enhanced interfaces effectively captured polyiodide intermediates at the cathode, suppressing shuttling.
• Achieved extended durability (4400 h), high coulombic efficiency (99.8% over 7500 cycles), and ultralong cycling (8000 cycles) at high reactant loading.

Conclusions:

• Phosphorylation regulation is a viable strategy for creating robust and adaptive interfaces in Zn-I2 batteries.
• This approach effectively addresses major interfacial challenges, leading to significantly improved battery performance and longevity.
• The findings offer critical insights for designing high-performance aqueous metal-iodine batteries.