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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
06:58
Zinc-Sponge Battery Electrodes that Suppress Dendrites
Published on: September 29, 2020
Time-Resolved Structural Insight into Zinc Metal Plating in Aqueous Batteries
Lacey Roberts1, Claire Ely1, Elizabeth Allan-Cole1
1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States.
Chemistry of Materials : a Publication of the American Chemical Society
|August 14, 2026
Summary
Zinc anodes show promise for aqueous batteries but suffer from irreversibility. This study reveals that crystallographic changes and parasitic reactions like dead zinc formation are key to understanding and improving zinc battery longevity.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Battery Technology
Background:
- Zinc metal anodes offer advantages for aqueous batteries, including high capacity and abundance.
- Parasitic reactions such as hydrogen evolution, dendrite formation, and zinc hydroxide sulfate (ZHS) buildup limit zinc anode reversibility and battery lifespan.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structural origins of electrochemical irreversibility in aqueous zinc batteries.
- To understand the crystallographic evolution of zinc anodes during cycling and its impact on performance.
Main Methods:
- Utilized *operando* X-ray diffraction to monitor zinc plating and stripping processes.
- Analyzed structural changes under varying current densities and capacities.
Main Results:
- Observed initial preferred (002) orientation of zinc plating, which shifts to Zn(100) or random orientations with cycling, especially at high capacities.
- Found ZHS formation is primarily dependent on time at low potentials, indicating calendar aging is a significant degradation factor.
- Correlated dead zinc formation and ZHS buildup with reduced Coulombic efficiency, with dead zinc being dominant in early cycle irreversibility.
Conclusions:
- Crystallographic orientation changes and parasitic phase formation are critical to zinc anode degradation.
- Controlling crystallographic texture and minimizing parasitic reactions through interface and electrolyte engineering are crucial for enhancing zinc battery reversibility and cycle life.
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