Zn-induced formation of polymetallic carbonate hydroxide cathodes with high mass loading for high performance aqueous alkaline Zn-based batteries

Kai Zhou; Weiqi Li; Ruyu Huang; Jianfeng Liang; Jingrong Chen; Yu Bao; Dongxue Han; Li Niu

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2023.12.035

Zn-induced formation of polymetallic carbonate hydroxide cathodes with high mass loading for high performance aqueous alkaline Zn-based batteries

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2024 Mar 15:658:459-467. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.12.035. Epub 2023 Dec 12.

Authors

Kai Zhou¹, Weiqi Li¹, Ruyu Huang¹, Jianfeng Liang¹, Jingrong Chen¹, Yu Bao², Dongxue Han¹, Li Niu³

Affiliations

¹ Center for Advanced Analytical Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Sensing Materials and Devices, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Photoelectric Sensing Materials and Devices, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
² Center for Advanced Analytical Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Sensing Materials and Devices, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Photoelectric Sensing Materials and Devices, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China. Electronic address: baoyu@gzhu.edu.cn.
³ Center for Advanced Analytical Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Sensing Materials and Devices, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Photoelectric Sensing Materials and Devices, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, 519082 Zhuhai, PR China. Electronic address: lniu@gzhu.edu.cn.

PMID: 38118192
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.12.035

Abstract

Developing high mass loading cathodes with high capacity and durable life cycles is greatly worthwhile and challenging for alkaline aqueous rechargeable Zn-based batteries (AAZBs). Herein, we demonstrate an efficient zinc-induced strategy to rationally develop Zn-Ni-Co carbonate hydroxides/hydroxides heterostructure nanosheet array with an extremely high mass loading of 9.2 mg cm^-2 on Ni foam (ZNC/NF) as such a superior cathode for AAZBs. It is discovered that Ni-Co hydroxide nanowires can be transformed into Zn-Ni-Co carbonate hydroxides/hydroxides heterostructure nanosheet with rich defect structures after the introduction of Zn during the synthetic process. The formed heterostructures and rich defect structures can enhance ion and electron transfer efficiency, thus ensuring the excellent electrochemical performance under high loading condition. Consequently, the ZNC/NF//Zn battery shows an outstanding areal capacity of 2.1 mAh cm^-2 at 5 mA cm^-2, with an ultrahigh energy density of 3.6 mWh cm^-2. Moreover, the battery can still retain a high capacity of 0.42 mAh cm^-2 after 5000 cycles at 50 mA cm^-2, suggesting strong long-term cycling stability. This research enables pave the way for the rational design and manufacture of advanced electrode materials with large mass loadings.

Keywords: Alkaline aqueous Zn-based batteries; Areal capacity; Heterostructure; High mass loading; Zn-Ni-Co carbonate hydroxide.