Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 17, 2026
06:58
Zinc-Sponge Battery Electrodes that Suppress Dendrites
Published on: September 29, 2020
4.8K
Understanding the Zeta Potential in Regulating Zn Deposition Kinetics for Zn-Ion Batteries
Yupeng Xing1, Caiyun Chang2, Tao Chen1
1School of Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|September 18, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed a new colloidal electrolyte using oxide nanoparticles to improve zinc plating in aqueous zinc-ion batteries. This method enhances battery stability and lifespan by controlling zinc deposition kinetics.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Severe Zn2+ concentration polarization at the anode/electrolyte interface in aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) leads to inhomogeneous electric fields, causing dendrite growth and dead zinc formation.
- Colloidal electrolytes offer a strategy to regulate zinc plating/stripping, but a fundamental understanding of colloidal particle adsorption and Zeta potential (ZP) effects on zinc deposition kinetics is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically investigate the effects of oxide nanoparticles (ONPs) and their Zeta potential (ZP) on enhancing the cyclic stability of AZIBs.
- To establish a screening principle for ONPs in colloidal electrolytes based on ZP for optimizing zinc deposition.
- To evaluate the performance of a optimized colloidal electrolyte in AZIBs and Zn||I2 pouch cells.
Main Methods:
- Studied the Zeta potential (ZP) and Zn2+ adsorption energy of various oxide nanoparticles (MgO, SiO2, Al2O3).
- Applied a Gum Arabic (GA) coating to ONPs to isolate the effect of surface chemistry on Zn2+ adsorption energy.
- Developed and tested a colloidal electrolyte using SiO2 nanoparticles (4Z-S) with a ZP of -28.6 mV.
Main Results:
- Established a screening principle for ONPs based on ZP for colloidal electrolytes.
- The SiO2-based colloidal electrolyte (4Z-S) demonstrated rapid Zn deposition kinetics.
- Zinc electrodes in the 4Z-S electrolyte achieved a high coulombic efficiency (CE) of 99.7% and long-term stability of 3400 h at 5 mA cm-2.
- A 145 mAh Zn||I2 pouch cell exhibited 94.8% capacity retention after 1000 cycles.
Conclusions:
- The ZP of oxide nanoparticles is a critical parameter for screening effective colloidal electrolytes in AZIBs.
- The GA-coated SiO2 colloidal electrolyte significantly enhances Zn deposition kinetics and battery performance.
- This approach shows promising practical application for stable and long-lasting aqueous zinc-ion batteries.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
03:02Standard Electrode Potentials
49.9K
On comparing the reactivity of silver and lead, it is observed that the two ionic species, Ag+ (aq) and Pb2+ (aq), show a difference in their redox reactivity towards copper: the silver ion undergoes spontaneous reduction, while the lead ion does not. This relative redox activity can be easily quantified in electrochemical cells by a property called cell potential. This property is commonly known as cell voltage in electrochemistry, and it is a measure of the energy which accompanies the charge...
49.9K
02:59The Nernst Equation
46.6K
Nonstandard Reaction Conditions
The interconnection between standard cell potentials and various thermodynamic parameters such as the standard free energy change ΔG° and equilibrium constant K has been previously explored. For example, a redox reaction involving zinc(II) and tin(II) ions at 1 M concentration with Eºcell = +0.291 V and ΔG° = −56.2 kJ is spontaneous.
The interconnection between standard cell potentials and various thermodynamic parameters such as the standard free energy change ΔG° and equilibrium constant K has been previously explored. For example, a redox reaction involving zinc(II) and tin(II) ions at 1 M concentration with Eºcell = +0.291 V and ΔG° = −56.2 kJ is spontaneous.
46.6K
01:08Electrodeposition
1.3K
Electrodeposition is a technique used to separate an analyte from interferents by electrochemical processes. Here, the analyte is a metal ion that can be deposited on an electrode immersed in the sample solution. The electrochemical setup consists of an anode and a cathode. When an electric current is applied to the setup, oxidation occurs at the anode. At the cathode, which consists of a large metal surface, metal ions undergo reduction and deposit onto the surface.
Electrodeposition can...
Electrodeposition can...
1.3K
01:30Ladder Diagrams: Redox Equilibria
768
Ladder diagrams are useful tools for understanding redox equilibrium reactions, especially the effects of concentration changes on the electrochemical potential of the reaction. The vertical axis in the redox ladder diagrams represents the electrochemical potential, E. The area of predominance is demarcated using the Nernst equation.
Consider the Fe3+/Fe2+ half-reaction, which has a standard-state potential of +0.771 V. At potentials more positive than +0.771 V, Fe3+ predominates, whereas Fe2+...
Consider the Fe3+/Fe2+ half-reaction, which has a standard-state potential of +0.771 V. At potentials more positive than +0.771 V, Fe3+ predominates, whereas Fe2+...
768
02:58Cell Potential and Free Energy
46.3K
Thermodynamics of a Redox Reaction
Thermodynamics is the branch of physics dealing with the relationship between heat and other forms of energy. In an electrochemical cell, chemical energy is converted into electrical energy.
Thus, a link can be predicted between cell potential, free energy change, and the equilibrium constant for the reaction. Cell potential can also be measured as the oxidant or the reducing strength, and similar acid-base strength measures are reflected in equilibrium...
Thermodynamics is the branch of physics dealing with the relationship between heat and other forms of energy. In an electrochemical cell, chemical energy is converted into electrical energy.
Thus, a link can be predicted between cell potential, free energy change, and the equilibrium constant for the reaction. Cell potential can also be measured as the oxidant or the reducing strength, and similar acid-base strength measures are reflected in equilibrium...
46.3K
01:26EDTA: Auxiliary Complexing Reagents
1.3K
EDTA titrations are usually carried out in highly basic conditions, where the fully deprotonated form of EDTA, Y4−, actively complexes with the free metal ions in the solution. Several metal ions precipitate as hydrous oxide (hydroxides, oxides, or oxyhydroxides) under these conditions, lowering the concentration of free metal ions in the solution. For this reason, auxiliary complexing agents or ligands such as ammonia, tartrate, citrate, or triethanolamine are used in EDTA titrations to...
1.3K