Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026
06:58
Zinc-Sponge Battery Electrodes that Suppress Dendrites
Published on: September 29, 2020
Synergistic Supramolecular-Cosolvent Electrolyte Engineering for Multiscale Regulation of Stable Zinc Anodes
Jie-Ying Zhao1, Hao Tan1, Long Chen1
1State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, School of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan, P. R. China.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|May 14, 2026
Summary
A novel electrolyte design using β-cyclodextrin and trimethyl phosphate enhances aqueous zinc metal battery performance. This synergistic approach stabilizes interfaces and improves cycling stability for better energy storage solutions.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Aqueous zinc metal batteries face challenges in uniform zinc deposition and interface stability.
- Developing stable electrolytes is crucial for advancing high-performance batteries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design a synergistic electrolyte for multiscale regulation in aqueous zinc metal batteries.
- To enhance zinc deposition uniformity and interfacial stability.
Main Methods:
- Integration of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) as a supramolecular regulator.
- Utilizing trimethyl phosphate (TMP) as a bulk cosolvent.
- Electrochemical and spectroscopic analyses.
Main Results:
- β-CD dynamically adsorbs on the Zn surface, guiding Zn2+ flux and forming a stable solid electrolyte interphase.
- TMP reconstructs the Zn2+ solvation shell and suppresses hydrogen evolution and corrosion.
- Zn||Zn symmetric cells achieved over 2000 h cycling stability.
- Zn||Cu asymmetric cells maintained 99.52% Coulombic efficiency for over 1100 cycles.
Conclusions:
- The synergistic electrolyte design enables multiscale regulation from the electrode interface to the electrolyte bulk.
- This cooperative mechanism optimizes interfacial kinetics and bulk electrolyte stability.
- The strategy offers a general approach for stabilizing metal anodes in aqueous batteries.
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