Integrated 'all-in-one' strategy to stabilize zinc anodes for high-performance zinc-ion batteries

Canpeng Li; Xuesong Xie; Hui Liu; Pinji Wang; Canbin Deng; Bingan Lu; Jiang Zhou; Shuquan Liang

doi:10.1093/nsr/nwab177

Integrated 'all-in-one' strategy to stabilize zinc anodes for high-performance zinc-ion batteries

Natl Sci Rev. 2021 Sep 15;9(3):nwab177. doi: 10.1093/nsr/nwab177. eCollection 2022 Mar.

Authors

Canpeng Li¹, Xuesong Xie¹, Hui Liu¹, Pinji Wang¹, Canbin Deng¹, Bingan Lu², Jiang Zhou¹, Shuquan Liang¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Electronic Packaging and Advanced Functional Materials of Hunan Province, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.
² School of Physics and Electronics, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China.

Abstract

Many optimization strategies have been employed to stabilize zinc anodes of zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs). Although these commonly used strategies can improve anode performance, they simultaneously induce specific issues. In this study, through the combination of structural design, interface modification, and electrolyte optimization, an 'all-in-one' (AIO) electrode was developed. Compared to the three-dimensional (3D) anode in routine liquid electrolytes, the new AIO electrode can greatly suppress gas evolution and the occurrence of side reactions induced by active water molecules, while retaining the merits of a 3D anode. Moreover, the integrated AIO strategy achieves a sufficient electrode/electrolyte interface contact area, so that the electrode can promote electron/ion transfer, and ensure a fast and complete redox reaction. As a result, it achieves excellent shelving-restoring ability (60 hours, four times) and 1200 cycles of long-term stability without apparent polarization. When paired with two common cathode materials used in ZIBs (α-MnO₂ and NH₄V₄O₁₀), full batteries with the AIO electrode demonstrate high capacity and good stability. The strategy of the 'all-in-one' architectural design is enlightened to solve the issues of zinc anodes in advanced Zn-based batteries.

Keywords: Zn-based batteries; all-in-one electrode; electrode/electrolyte interface; hydrogen-free.