Issue 12, 2023

Localized gelation cellulose separators enable dendrite-free anodes for future zinc-ion batteries

Abstract

The safety, adaptability, and eco-friendliness of zinc-ion batteries have recently been drawing increased attention. However, zinc-ion batteries suffer from irregular interfacial kinetics and uncontrolled Zn2+ deposition. Herein, a novel localized gelation separator (LGS) with low-cost natural cellulose separators has been developed, prepared via a green chemistry process. The LGS can “intelligently” select the deposition site through the updated separator/anode interface due to the repulsion between non-gelation regions and anodes. The solvation shell of ZnSO4 is altered due to the involvement of cellulose, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction patterns, Raman spectra and ab initio molecular dynamics calculations, where the interfacial transfer of Zn2+ is regulated and the activity of water is reduced. A novel linearly increasing polarization was observed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, revealing smooth interface kinetics and charge-transfer impedance. With those benefits, the zinc symmetric cell shows stable cyclability for more than 1200 h even at 20 mA cm−2. Superior dendrite suppression was observed using in situ optical microscopy at 20 mA h cm−2. After 300 cycles, the discharge-specific capacity of the MnO2 cell with the LGS was 80 mA h g−1. The LGS also showed excellent performance at −20 °C. This LG strategy has broad prospects and provides new ideas for dendrite-free zinc-ion batteries.

Graphical abstract: Localized gelation cellulose separators enable dendrite-free anodes for future zinc-ion batteries

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
05 jan 2023
Accepted
23 feb 2023
First published
23 feb 2023

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2023,11, 6522-6529

Localized gelation cellulose separators enable dendrite-free anodes for future zinc-ion batteries

C. Xi, Y. Xiao, C. Yang, M. Li, L. Li, Y. Chao, L. Li, C. He and Y. Yu, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2023, 11, 6522 DOI: 10.1039/D3TA00094J

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements