Homogenizing Zn Deposition in Hierarchical Nanoporous Cu for a High-Current, High Areal-Capacity Zn Flow Battery

Li，Yang1; Li，Liangyu1; Zhao，Yunhe1; Deng，Canbin2; Yi，Zhibin1,3; Xiao，Diwen1; Mubarak，Nauman1; Xu，Mengyang4; Li，Jie1; Luo，Guangfu3; Chen，Qing1,5; Kim，Jang Kyo1,6,7

2023

10.1002/smll.202303005

Small   Impact Factor & Quartile

1613-6810

1613-6829

A Zn anode can offset the low energy density of a flow battery for a balanced approach toward electricity storage. Yet, when targeting inexpensive, long-duration storage, the battery demands a thick Zn deposit in a porous framework, whose heterogeneity triggers frequent dendrite formation and jeopardizes the stability of the battery. Here, Cu foam is transferred into a hierarchical nanoporous electrode to homogenize the deposition. It begins with alloying the foam with Zn to form CuZn, whose depth is controlled to retain the large pores for a hydraulic permeability ≈10 m. Dealloying follows to create nanoscale pores and abundant fine pits below 10 nm, where Zn can nucleate preferentially due to the Gibbs–Thomson effect, as supported by a density functional theory simulation. Morphological evolution monitored by in situ microscopy confirms uniform Zn deposition. The electrode delivers 200 h of stable cycles in a Zn–I flow battery at 60 mAh cm and 60 mA cm, performance that meets practical demands.

hierarchical structures morphology evolution nanoporous electrodes Zn flow batteries

SCI

English

Others

National Foundation of Natural Science, China[T23-601/17-R] ; null[52022002] ; null[C1002-21G]

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

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

WOS:001000018200001

WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH

2-s2.0-85160696253

Scopus

1.Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology,Clear Water Bay,Hong Kong
2.Interdisciplinary Programs Office,The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology,Clear Water Bay,Hong Kong
3.Department of Materials Science and Engineering,Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Interfacial Science and Engineering of Materials,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,Guangdong,518055,China
4.Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering,The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology,Clear Water Bay,Hong Kong
5.Department of Chemistry,The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology,Clear Water Bay,Hong Kong
6.School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering,University of New South Wales,Sydney,2052,Australia
7.Department of Mechanical Engineering,Khalifa University,Abu Dhabi,127788,United Arab Emirates

Li，Yang,Li，Liangyu,Zhao，Yunhe,et al. Homogenizing Zn Deposition in Hierarchical Nanoporous Cu for a High-Current, High Areal-Capacity Zn Flow Battery[J]. Small,2023.

Li，Yang.,Li，Liangyu.,Zhao，Yunhe.,Deng，Canbin.,Yi，Zhibin.,...&Kim，Jang Kyo.(2023).Homogenizing Zn Deposition in Hierarchical Nanoporous Cu for a High-Current, High Areal-Capacity Zn Flow Battery.Small.

Li，Yang,et al."Homogenizing Zn Deposition in Hierarchical Nanoporous Cu for a High-Current, High Areal-Capacity Zn Flow Battery".Small (2023).