Optimizing the Interface Solvation Structure Enables Uniform Zinc Deposition for Zinc Metal Batteries

Rechargeable aqueous Zn metal battery demonstrates great potential in grid-type energy storage systems due to its low cost, high safety, and environmental friendliness. However, its practical application is still restricted by Zn dendrite growth and side reactions from the Zn metal anode. Here, we p...

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Main Authors: Chang Liu, Tiantian Lu, Ziyang Liang, Xiang Bai, Jiahui Zhang, Xinyue Chang, Lixiang Guan, Lifeng Hou, Yinghui Wei, Qian Wang, Qi Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2025-01-01
Series:Energy Material Advances
Online Access:https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/energymatadv.0161
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author Chang Liu
Tiantian Lu
Ziyang Liang
Xiang Bai
Jiahui Zhang
Xinyue Chang
Lixiang Guan
Lifeng Hou
Yinghui Wei
Qian Wang
Qi Liu
author_facet Chang Liu
Tiantian Lu
Ziyang Liang
Xiang Bai
Jiahui Zhang
Xinyue Chang
Lixiang Guan
Lifeng Hou
Yinghui Wei
Qian Wang
Qi Liu
author_sort Chang Liu
collection DOAJ
description Rechargeable aqueous Zn metal battery demonstrates great potential in grid-type energy storage systems due to its low cost, high safety, and environmental friendliness. However, its practical application is still restricted by Zn dendrite growth and side reactions from the Zn metal anode. Here, we propose a uniform Zn deposition mechanism by optimizing the interface solvation structure using trace isonicotinamide (ISO; only 0.77$/g) as the electrolyte additive. Unlike previously reported acidic additives, which will reduce the electrolyte pH and potentially exacerbate corrosion, ISO molecules do not experience this anxiety. At the same time, ISO can be adsorbed on the surface of Zn electrodes and participate in the dissolution of the structure, adjusting the coordination microenvironment of Zn2+ at the interface and removing the active H2O molecules, thereby improving the interface stability of the Zn metal anode and reducing side reactions substantially. As a result, the Zn | Cu half cells can stably run over 900 cycles with a high coulombic efficiency of >99.5% at a current density of 1.0 mA/cm2. Perhaps more significantly, the symmetric cells witness an extremely long cycle life (>8,700 h, almost 1 year) even at a low current density of 0.2 mA/cm2. Lastly, the full cells with V2O5 cathode show better capacity retention after 1,000 cycles. This work provides a new pathway to developing advanced electrolyte additives for high-performance aqueous Zn metal batteries.
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spelling doaj-art-ced7928ef94e41a3a97bae9050df29a52025-08-20T02:08:42ZengAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)Energy Material Advances2692-76402025-01-01610.34133/energymatadv.0161Optimizing the Interface Solvation Structure Enables Uniform Zinc Deposition for Zinc Metal BatteriesChang Liu0Tiantian Lu1Ziyang Liang2Xiang Bai3Jiahui Zhang4Xinyue Chang5Lixiang Guan6Lifeng Hou7Yinghui Wei8Qian Wang9Qi Liu10College of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China.College of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China.College of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China.Shanxi Energy Internet Research Institute, Taiyuan 030024, China.Shanxi Energy Internet Research Institute, Taiyuan 030024, China.Shanxi Energy Internet Research Institute, Taiyuan 030024, China.College of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China.College of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China.College of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China.College of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China.Beijing Key Laboratory of Environment Science and Engineering, School of Material Science and Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Electric Vehicles in Beijing, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.Rechargeable aqueous Zn metal battery demonstrates great potential in grid-type energy storage systems due to its low cost, high safety, and environmental friendliness. However, its practical application is still restricted by Zn dendrite growth and side reactions from the Zn metal anode. Here, we propose a uniform Zn deposition mechanism by optimizing the interface solvation structure using trace isonicotinamide (ISO; only 0.77$/g) as the electrolyte additive. Unlike previously reported acidic additives, which will reduce the electrolyte pH and potentially exacerbate corrosion, ISO molecules do not experience this anxiety. At the same time, ISO can be adsorbed on the surface of Zn electrodes and participate in the dissolution of the structure, adjusting the coordination microenvironment of Zn2+ at the interface and removing the active H2O molecules, thereby improving the interface stability of the Zn metal anode and reducing side reactions substantially. As a result, the Zn | Cu half cells can stably run over 900 cycles with a high coulombic efficiency of >99.5% at a current density of 1.0 mA/cm2. Perhaps more significantly, the symmetric cells witness an extremely long cycle life (>8,700 h, almost 1 year) even at a low current density of 0.2 mA/cm2. Lastly, the full cells with V2O5 cathode show better capacity retention after 1,000 cycles. This work provides a new pathway to developing advanced electrolyte additives for high-performance aqueous Zn metal batteries.https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/energymatadv.0161
spellingShingle Chang Liu
Tiantian Lu
Ziyang Liang
Xiang Bai
Jiahui Zhang
Xinyue Chang
Lixiang Guan
Lifeng Hou
Yinghui Wei
Qian Wang
Qi Liu
Optimizing the Interface Solvation Structure Enables Uniform Zinc Deposition for Zinc Metal Batteries
Energy Material Advances
title Optimizing the Interface Solvation Structure Enables Uniform Zinc Deposition for Zinc Metal Batteries
title_full Optimizing the Interface Solvation Structure Enables Uniform Zinc Deposition for Zinc Metal Batteries
title_fullStr Optimizing the Interface Solvation Structure Enables Uniform Zinc Deposition for Zinc Metal Batteries
title_full_unstemmed Optimizing the Interface Solvation Structure Enables Uniform Zinc Deposition for Zinc Metal Batteries
title_short Optimizing the Interface Solvation Structure Enables Uniform Zinc Deposition for Zinc Metal Batteries
title_sort optimizing the interface solvation structure enables uniform zinc deposition for zinc metal batteries
url https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/energymatadv.0161
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