Water molecular activity management towards stable Zn anodes
image: Overview of electrolyte engineering and strategies for better ZABs
Credit: ©Science China Press
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries have attracted widespread interest due to their low cost, high safety, and environmental friendliness, and have become a hot spot in the field of secondary batteries. However, challenges associated with zinc anodes, such as dendrite growth and side reactions related to the high activity of free water molecules in aqueous electrolytes, have seriously hindered the development of aqueous zinc-ion batteries.
In recent years, strategies aimed at regulating the activity of water molecules have been shown to be effective in solving these problems. However, from the perspective of water molecule activity management, there is a lack of a systematic summary of the functional mechanisms of electrolyte engineering and stabilizing zinc anodes.
The review article co-authored by Professor Dongliang Chao and Jun Pu comprehensively introduces the strategies for inhibiting dendrite growth and side reactions in aqueous zinc-ion batteries by regulating the activity of water molecules through electrolyte engineering. It includes the latest research on aqueous zinc-ion batteries, the origin of challenges related to zinc metal anodes, and the development of technologies and electrolyte additives. The methods of inhibiting the activity of water molecules and isolating water molecules from metal zinc by constructing hydrophobic interfaces, adjusting solvation structures, and reconstructing hydrogen bonds are summarized. By adjusting the pH and concentration of the electrolyte, the water molecules are repositioned to reduce the problems of dendrite growth and side reactions.
Various strategies for improving the performance of zinc metal anodes are described from different perspectives. This report presents the latest progress in anode protection of aqueous zinc-ion batteries and looks forward to the future innovation of electrolyte technology.
See the article:
Water molecular activity management towards stable Zn anodes
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-024-2098-6