Examining Concentration-Reliant Zn Deposition/Stripping Behavior in Organic Alcohol/Sulfones-Modified Aqueous Electrolytes

Zhuang, Weiman1,2,3,4; Chen, Qianwen1; Hou, Zhen5; Sun, Zongzhao1; Zhang, Tianxu1; Wan, Jianyong1; Huang, Limin1,2,3,4

2023-04-01

10.1002/smll.202300274

SMALL   Impact Factor & Quartile

1613-6810

1613-6829

The practical application of Zn metal anodes in electronic devices is hindered by dendrite growth and parasitic reactions. Electrolyte optimization, particularly the introduction of organic co-solvents, is widely used to circumvent these challenges. Various organic solvents in a wide range of concentrations have been reported; however, their influences and corresponding working mechanisms at different concentrations are largely unexplored in the same organic species. Herein, economical, low-flammable ethylene glycol (EG) is used as a model co-solvent in aqueous electrolytes to examine the relationship between its concentration, anode-stabilizing effect, and mechanism. Two maximal values are observed for the lifetime of Zn/Zn symmetric batteries under EG concentrations from 0.05 vol% to 48 vol%. Zn metal anodes can stably run for over 1700 h at a low EG content (0.25 vol%) and high EG content (40 vol%). Based on the complementary experimental and theoretical calculations, the enhancements in low- and high-content EG are ascribed to the specific surface adsorption for suppressed dendrite growth and the regulated solvation structure for inhibited side reactions, respectively. Intriguingly, a similar concentration-reliant bimodal phenomenon is observed in other low-flammable organic solvents (e.g., glycerol and dimethyl sulfoxide), thereby suggesting universality of this study and providing insight into electrolyte optimization.

concentrations organic solvents solvation structures surface adsorption zinc metal batteries

SCI

English

First ; Corresponding

Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Materials for Electric Power[2018B030322001] ; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Catalysis[2020B121201002] ; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Solid State Batteries[ZDSYS20180208184346531] ; Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission[JCYJ20220818100212027]

Chemistry ; Science & Technology - Other Topics ; Materials Science ; Physics

Chemistry, Multidisciplinary ; Chemistry, Physical ; Nanoscience & Nanotechnology ; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary ; Physics, Applied ; Physics, Condensed Matter

WOS:000963929300001

WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH

Web of Science

1.Southern Univ Sci & Technol SUSTech, Dept Chem, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, Peoples R China
2.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Guangdong Prov Key Lab Energy Mat Elect Power, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China
3.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Shenzhen Key Lab Solid State Batteries, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China
4.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Joint Lab Photon Thermal, Hong Kong 518055, Guangdong, Peoples R China
5.Hong Kong Polytech Univ, Dept Appl Phys, Hong Kong 100872, Peoples R China

Zhuang, Weiman,Chen, Qianwen,Hou, Zhen,et al. Examining Concentration-Reliant Zn Deposition/Stripping Behavior in Organic Alcohol/Sulfones-Modified Aqueous Electrolytes[J]. SMALL,2023.

Zhuang, Weiman.,Chen, Qianwen.,Hou, Zhen.,Sun, Zongzhao.,Zhang, Tianxu.,...&Huang, Limin.(2023).Examining Concentration-Reliant Zn Deposition/Stripping Behavior in Organic Alcohol/Sulfones-Modified Aqueous Electrolytes.SMALL.

Zhuang, Weiman,et al."Examining Concentration-Reliant Zn Deposition/Stripping Behavior in Organic Alcohol/Sulfones-Modified Aqueous Electrolytes".SMALL (2023).