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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
06:58
Zinc-Sponge Battery Electrodes that Suppress Dendrites
Published on: September 29, 2020
Interfacial Fluorinated Ion Crowding Enables Reversible Zinc Metal Batteries
Xinyu Zhang1, Jitao Shang2, Ruwei Chen1
1Christopher Ingold Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University College London, London, UK.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|July 20, 2026
Summary
A novel fluorinated-ion crowding strategy enhances aqueous zinc metal battery safety and lifespan by preventing side reactions. This method significantly improves zinc plating and stripping stability for reliable large-scale energy storage.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs) offer safe, large-scale energy storage.
- Interfacial side reactions like dendrite growth limit AZMB lifespan.
- Current single-additive strategies inadequately control these interfacial reactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a new strategy for enhancing AZMB stability and lifespan.
- To investigate the mechanism of interfacial ion crowding for improved battery performance.
- To overcome the limitations of conventional single-additive approaches.
Main Methods:
- Computational and spectroscopic analyses to study interfacial behavior.
- Introduction of multiple low-concentration fluorinated additives.
- Electrochemical testing of zinc plating and stripping stability.
Main Results:
- Fluorinated additives densely occupied the inner-Helmholtz plane (IHP), displacing water.
- Homogenized Zn2+ flux and improved interfacial regulation were observed.
- Ultrastable Zn plating/stripping exceeded 1200 h at 5 mA cm-2 and 1800 h at 10 mA cm-2.
Conclusions:
- Interfacial ion crowding is a powerful principle for designing durable AZMBs.
- This strategy offers a pathway to high-performance, long-lasting aqueous zinc metal batteries.
- The findings advance fundamental understanding of electrochemical interfaces in energy storage devices.
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