Improving Capacity Retention of Anode-Free Zinc Batteries with Simple Geometry and Lorentz Forces

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) offer a safe, sustainable, and economical alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
• However, their widespread adoption is limited by low energy density and poor long-term cyclability, especially in anode-free configurations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the capacity retention and long-term cyclability of anode-free AZIBs.
• To achieve these improvements without compromising cost-effectiveness, environmental friendliness, safety, or recyclability.

Main Methods:

• Reduced the surface area of the current collector by over 99%.
• Incorporated a 100 mT magnetic field using an internal permanent magnet.
• Implemented a 1-hour hold at the end of the discharge cycle.

Main Results:

• A >99% reduction in current collector surface area improved capacity retention by over 400% compared to the control.
• The addition of a magnetic field and discharge hold further boosted capacity retention by an additional 350%.
• Achieved significant improvements in performance with minimal impact on cost and sustainability.

Conclusions:

• Strategies involving reduced current collector surface area and magnetic field application are effective for improving anode-free AZIB cyclability.
• These methods offer a practical pathway to enhance AZIB performance without complex or costly modifications.
• The findings support the viability of AZIBs as a sustainable energy storage solution.