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Updated: Jan 31, 2026
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Zinc-Sponge Battery Electrodes that Suppress Dendrites
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High Stability Alkaline Zinc-Ferricyanide Flow Battery With Multi-Coordination Electrolyte Additive for Suppressing
1School of Energy and Environment, Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control of the Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|January 30, 2026
Summary
Researchers have identified irreversible crystal bud growth as the cause of "dead zinc" in aqueous alkaline zinc-ferricyanide flow batteries (AZFFBs). A new additive, panthenol (PAN), prevents this issue, significantly extending battery life and improving efficiency for grid-scale energy storage.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Grid-scale energy storage is vital for integrating intermittent renewable energy sources.
- Aqueous alkaline zinc-ferricyanide flow batteries (AZFFBs) offer a low-cost, safe, and kinetically favorable solution.
- The practical application of AZFFBs is limited by "dead zinc" formation, causing capacity fade and flow channel obstruction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanism behind "dead zinc" formation in AZFFBs.
- To develop an effective strategy for inhibiting zinc pulverization.
- To enhance the long-term stability and performance of AZFFBs.
Main Methods:
- Identification of irreversible crystal bud growth as the root cause of zinc pulverization.
- Introduction of panthenol (PAN), a multi-coordination electrolyte additive.
- Electrochemical testing of Zn||K4[Fe(CN)6] full batteries with and without PAN.
Main Results:
- Panthenol (PAN) homogenizes ion transport and promotes reversible crystal bud formation/re-atomization.
- A 15-fold increase in cycling life for Zn||K4[Fe(CN)6] full batteries was achieved.
- Coulombic efficiency, energy efficiency, and voltage efficiency improved by 2.1%, 3.1%, and 1.2%, respectively.
Conclusions:
- Irreversible crystal bud growth is the primary cause of "dead zinc" in AZFFBs.
- Panthenol (PAN) effectively inhibits zinc pulverization and enhances battery longevity.
- This research bridges the gap between renewable energy generation and reliable grid-scale storage solutions.
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