Claw-Like Macromolecular Engineering for Stabilizing Zinc Anodes Under High-Current Operation.

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Energy Storage

Background:

• High-current operation in zinc batteries causes uneven deposition and side reactions due to mass transport limitations.
• Stabilizing the electrolyte/electrode interface (EEI) is crucial for high-performance zinc-based energy storage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an electrolyte modification strategy for stabilizing zinc anodes under high-current conditions.
• To investigate the role of Tris(3,6-dioxaheptyl)amine (TDA-1) in enhancing zinc deposition and battery stability.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical calculations and experimental validation were employed.
• Electrolyte modification using Tris(3,6-dioxaheptyl)amine (TDA-1) additive.
• Fabrication and testing of Zn||Zn symmetric and Zn||VNNC full batteries.

Main Results:

• TDA-1, with its claw-like structure and polar groups, effectively stabilizes the EEI by reconstructing the electric double layer (EDL).
• The additive reduces Zn²⁺ desolvation energy and optimizes ion migration, enabling uniform zinc deposition.
• Zn||Zn batteries cycled stably for 1000 hours at 20 mA·cm^-2; Zn||VNNC batteries showed improved capacity retention.

Conclusions:

• Macromolecular additives with specific spatial structures can significantly enhance zinc anode stability.
• TDA-1 offers a promising approach for developing high-current density zinc batteries.
• The findings pave the way for advanced electrolyte engineering in next-generation energy storage systems.