Issue 36, 2023

Enabling uniform zinc deposition by zwitterion additives in aqueous zinc metal anodes

Abstract

The rechargeable aqueous zinc metal battery is considered one of the most promising next-generation batteries for energy storage systems, owing to its low negative standard reduction potential (−0.76 vs. the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE)), low cost of zinc and water, and no fire-risk. However, the formation of zinc dendrites and hydrogen evolution hinder the commercialization of rechargeable aqueous zinc metal batteries. In this study, we investigate the use of 6-aminohexanoic acid (6-AA), a type of amino acid, as an electrolyte in a 1 M ZnSO4 solution. The 6-AA molecules become zwitterions, reducing side reactions by adsorbing onto the zinc metal surface and blocking water molecules and other ions, except for zinc ions. Additionally, the adsorbed 6-AA molecules hinder the two-dimensional diffusion of zinc ions on the zinc metal surface and thereby reduce the formation of zinc dendrites. The 6-AA additive enables reduced corrosion, and uniform zinc deposition is observed. Moreover, both the Zn‖Zn symmetric cell and Zn‖Cu cell with the 6-AA added electrolyte exhibit a long cycle life, and the α-MnO2‖Zn full cell shows improved cycle performance by using the 6-AA additive.

Graphical abstract: Enabling uniform zinc deposition by zwitterion additives in aqueous zinc metal anodes

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
31 3 2023
Accepted
15 8 2023
First published
15 8 2023

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2023,11, 19384-19395

Enabling uniform zinc deposition by zwitterion additives in aqueous zinc metal anodes

S. Huh, Y. J. Choi, S. H. Kim, J. Bae, S. Lee and S. Yu, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2023, 11, 19384 DOI: 10.1039/D3TA01943H

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