Issue 15, 2024

Surface charge-reinforced and ion-selective layers for stable metal zinc anode chemistry

Abstract

The application of zinc (Zn) metal-based batteries is hindered by the uncontrollable thermodynamic-driven hydrogen evolution reactions and kinetic-induced dendrite growth, resulting in reduced cycling stability and premature battery failure. To tackle these challenges, we introduce a pH-mediated surface charge-reinforced and ion-selective strategy by using a facile self-assembled approach, by which cysteamine (SH–CH2–CH2–NH2) molecular layers (SALs) are in situ constructed on the Zn metal surface (Zn@SCRIS-SALs). Triggered by the pH-mediated-protonation effect, these layers generate a partial positive surface (–NH3+) to repel the hydrated protons and zinc-philic sites (–NH2) for anchoring Zn2+. The synergistic combination of the above effects enabled highly reversible Zn metal chemistry to effectively suppress side reactions and dendrite growth. Zn@SCRIS-SALs in symmetric cells exhibited stability with an ultralong lifespan of 2500 h under a high current density of 10 mA cm−2. The superior reversibility was further ascertained by integrating Zn@SCRIS-SALs with the I2 cathode in full cells, which showed high-capacity retention compared to bare Zn-based cells. Furthermore, 80 mA h pouch cells assembled with Zn@SCRIS-SALs were operated over 2500 cycles at an areal capacity of 5.18 mA h cm−2. This work offers a new platform to finely modulate the electron state of interfacial molecular layers for highly reversible aqueous Zn ion batteries.

Graphical abstract: Surface charge-reinforced and ion-selective layers for stable metal zinc anode chemistry

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
20 Mar 2024
Accepted
06 Jun 2024
First published
18 Jun 2024

Energy Environ. Sci., 2024,17, 5440-5450

Surface charge-reinforced and ion-selective layers for stable metal zinc anode chemistry

Z. Wei, S. Wang, D. Li, S. Yang, S. Guo, G. Qu, Y. Yang and H. Li, Energy Environ. Sci., 2024, 17, 5440 DOI: 10.1039/D4EE01260G

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