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Updated: Sep 9, 2025
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Zinc-Sponge Battery Electrodes that Suppress Dendrites
Published on: September 29, 2020
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I+/I2/I- conversion toward energy-dense aqueous Zn-I2 batteries: progress and perspective
Yangyang Liu1, Kuan Zhou1, Rui Wang1
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Leibniz International Joint Research Center of Materials Sciences of Anhui Province, Anhui University Hefei 230601 China zlhedu@ahu.edu.cn cfz@ahu.edu.cn.
Chemical Science
|September 3, 2025
Summary
Aqueous zinc-iodine batteries can store more energy by using a four-electron conversion process. This study explores strategies to overcome reversibility challenges in these advanced batteries for better energy storage.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Aqueous zinc-iodine batteries (ZIBs) are researched for fast redox kinetics and multi-electron transfer.
- Current 2-electron ZIBs (I2/I-) have limited energy density.
- Higher energy density requires 4-electron conversion (I+/I2/I-).
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate fundamental principles of I2/I- and I+/I2 redox chemistry.
- To critically evaluate strategies for enhancing 4-electron ZIB (4eZIB) performance.
- To propose methods for improving the reversibility of I+/I2/I- conversion.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive review of I2/I- and I+/I2 redox chemistry.
- Critical evaluation of existing strategies for 4eZIB performance enhancement.
- Identification and proposal of methodological approaches for improved reversibility.
Main Results:
- 4eZIBs offer potential energy density up to 630 Wh kg-1 (based on I2 mass).
- Severe reversibility issues in 4eZIBs stem from iodide shuttle and I+ hydrolysis.
- Diverse strategies for enhancing 4eZIB performance were evaluated.
Conclusions:
- Understanding I+/I2/I- redox chemistry is crucial for advancing ZIBs.
- Addressing reversibility challenges is key to unlocking the high energy density potential of 4eZIBs.
- Proposed methodological approaches offer insights for developing next-generation metal-halogen batteries.
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