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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
06:44
From Molecules to Materials: Engineering New Ionic Liquid Crystals Through Halogen Bonding
Published on: March 24, 2018
Halogen-bonded covalent confinement enables solid-solid four-electron transfer in aqueous zinc-iodine batteries
Yueliang Chen1, Zhaoyu Zhang1, Song Huang1,2
1School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China. licc@gdut.edu.cn.
Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|August 3, 2026
Summary
Pyridinium tribromide stabilizes aqueous zinc-iodine batteries by preventing damaging iodine reactions and ion movement. This breakthrough enhances battery performance and longevity.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Aqueous zinc-iodine (Zn-I2) batteries face challenges with unstable iodine species (I+) and polyiodide shuttling, limiting their practical application.
- These issues lead to capacity fading and reduced battery lifespan.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address the instability of iodine species and polyiodide shuttling in aqueous Zn-I2 batteries.
- To enhance the electrochemical performance and stability of these energy storage systems.
Main Methods:
- Introduction of pyridinium tribromide (PTB) as an interphase regulator.
- Utilizing halogen-bonded covalent confinement at the cathode.
- Investigating solid-solid four-electron transfer mechanisms.
Main Results:
- PTB effectively suppresses I+ hydrolysis.
- Polyiodide shuttling is significantly mitigated.
- Stable solid-solid four-electron transfer is achieved at the cathode.
Conclusions:
- Pyridinium tribromide acts as a novel interphase regulator for aqueous Zn-I2 batteries.
- The developed strategy enhances battery stability and performance by controlling cathode-electrolyte interphase.
- This research offers a promising pathway for developing robust aqueous metal-iodine batteries.
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