Decoding the Mechanisms of Reversibility Loss in Rechargeable Zinc-Air Batteries

Yi，Zhibin1,2; Li，Liangyu2; Chan，Cheuk Kai3; Tang，Yaxin1; Lu，Zhouguang1; Zhi，Chunyi4; Chen，Qing2,3; Luo，Guangfu1,5

2023

10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c02244

Nano Letters   Impact Factor & Quartile

1530-6984

1530-6992

Attaining high reversibility of the electrodes and electrolyte is essential for the longevity of secondary batteries. Rechargeable zinc-air batteries (RZABs), however, encounter drastic irreversible changes in the zinc anodes and air cathodes during cycling. To uncover the mechanisms of reversibility loss in RZABs, we investigate the evolution of the zinc anode, alkaline electrolyte, and air electrode through experiments and first-principles calculations. Morphology diagrams of zinc anodes under versatile operating conditions reveal that the nanosized mossy zinc dominates the later cycling stage. Such anodic change is induced by the increased zincate concentration due to hydrogen evolution, which is catalyzed by the mossy structure and results in oxide passivation on electrodes and eventually leads to low true Coulombic efficiencies and short life spans of batteries. Inspired by these findings, we finally present a novel overcharge-cycling protocol to compensate for the Coulombic efficiency loss caused by hydrogen evolution and significantly extend the battery life.

electrode morphology hydrogen evolution overcharge-cycling protocol Rechargeable zinc-air battery

SCI

English

NI Journal Papers

First ; Corresponding

Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Computational Science and Material Design[2019B030301001] ; Introduced Innovative Ramp;D Team of Guangdong[2017ZT07C062] ; Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission[JCYJ20200109141412308] ; National Foundation of Natural Science, China[52022002]

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

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

WOS:001043689900001

AMER CHEMICAL SOC

MATERIALS SCIENCE

2-s2.0-85168474987

Scopus

1.Department of Materials Science and Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China
2.Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology,Hong Kong,Clear Water Bay,Hong Kong
3.Department of Chemistry,The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology,Hong Kong,Clear Water Bay,Hong Kong
4.Department of Materials Science and Engineering,City University of Hong Kong,Kowloon,Hong Kong
5.Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Computational Science and Material Design,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China

Yi，Zhibin,Li，Liangyu,Chan，Cheuk Kai,et al. Decoding the Mechanisms of Reversibility Loss in Rechargeable Zinc-Air Batteries[J]. Nano Letters,2023.

Yi，Zhibin.,Li，Liangyu.,Chan，Cheuk Kai.,Tang，Yaxin.,Lu，Zhouguang.,...&Luo，Guangfu.(2023).Decoding the Mechanisms of Reversibility Loss in Rechargeable Zinc-Air Batteries.Nano Letters.

Yi，Zhibin,et al."Decoding the Mechanisms of Reversibility Loss in Rechargeable Zinc-Air Batteries".Nano Letters (2023).