Research

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10 pages, 3158 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Phase-Transformation-Activated MnCO₃ as Cathode Material of Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

by Funian Mo, Mangwei Cui, Liangliang Yang, Hao Lei, Sheng Chen, Jun Wei and Litao Kang

Batteries 2022, 8(11), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries8110239 - 15 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1884

The intrinsic high safety of rechargeable aqueous batteries makes them particularly advantageous in the field of large-scale energy storage. Among them, rechargeable Zn–Mn batteries with high energy density, low cost, high discharge voltage, and nontoxicity have been considered as one of the most [...] Read more.

The intrinsic high safety of rechargeable aqueous batteries makes them particularly advantageous in the field of large-scale energy storage. Among them, rechargeable Zn–Mn batteries with high energy density, low cost, high discharge voltage, and nontoxicity have been considered as one of the most promising aqueous battery systems. However, exiting research on manganese-based cathode materials mainly focuses on diverse manganese oxides analogs, while reports on other promising manganese-based analogs with high performance are still limited. Herein, we report a MnCO₃ cathode material, which can be manufactured on a large scale by a facile coprecipitation method. Interestingly, the MnCO₃ can spontaneously be converted into MnO₂ material during the charging process. The Zn–MnCO₃ battery delivers a highly specific capacity (280 mAh g⁻¹) even at the high current density of 50 mA g⁻¹. It is also noteworthy that the battery with a high loading mass (7.2 mg cm⁻²) exhibits good reversibility of charge–discharge for 2000 cycles, showing a competitive cycling stability in aqueous systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zn-Based Batteries: Recent Progresses and Challenges)

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14 pages, 6060 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Room-Temperature Liquid-Metal Coated Zn Electrode for Long Life Cycle Aqueous Rechargeable Zn-Ion Batteries

by Weldejewergis Gebrewahid Kidanu, Hyewon Yang, Saemin Park, Jaehyun Hur and Il Tae Kim

Batteries 2022, 8(11), 208; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries8110208 - 02 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2158

Abstract

Aqueous rechargeable zinc-ion batteries (ARZIBs) are potential candidates for grid-scale energy storage applications. In addition to its reversible chemistry in aqueous electrolytes, Zn metal is stable in water and air. However, there are critical challenges, such as non-uniform plating, hydrogen evolution, corrosion, and [...] Read more.

Aqueous rechargeable zinc-ion batteries (ARZIBs) are potential candidates for grid-scale energy storage applications. In addition to its reversible chemistry in aqueous electrolytes, Zn metal is stable in water and air. However, there are critical challenges, such as non-uniform plating, hydrogen evolution, corrosion, and the formation of a passivation layer, which must be addressed before practical applications. In this study, the surface of Zn metal was coated with room-temperature bulk liquid-metal and liquid-metal nanoparticles to facilitate the uniform plating of Zn–ions during cycling. A simple probe ultrasonication method was used to prepare the liquid-metal nanoparticles, and a nanoparticle suspension film was formed through spin coating. At an areal capacity and current density of 0.5 mAh cm⁻² and 0.5 mA cm⁻², respectively, symmetric cells composed of bare Zn metal electrodes were prone to short-circuiting after ~45 h of deposition/striping cycles. However, under the same operating conditions, symmetric cells employing the room-temperature liquid-metal-coated electrodes operated stably for more than 500 h. Compared to the symmetric cell with bare Zn, the symmetric cell with the bulk liquid-metal coated electrode exhibited a significant reduction in the initial nucleation barrier, with respective values of 113.2 and 10.1 mV. Electrochemical characterization of practical full cells also showed significant improvements in the capacity and cycling performance derived from the room-temperature liquid-metal coating. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zn-Based Batteries: Recent Progresses and Challenges)

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10 pages, 2478 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Agglomeration-Free and Air-Inert Garnet for Upgrading PEO/Garnet Composite Solid State Electrolyte

by Jun Cheng, Hongqiang Zhang, Deping Li, Yuanyuan Li, Zhen Zeng, Fengjun Ji, Youri Wei, Xiao Xu, Qing Sun, Shang Wang, Jingyu Lu and Lijie Ci

Batteries 2022, 8(10), 141; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries8100141 - 23 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2502

Abstract

Due to the intrinsically high ionic conductivity and good interfacial stability towards lithium, garnet-type solid electrolytes are usually introduced into polymer electrolytes as fillers to prepare polymer/garnet composite electrolytes, which can improve the ionic conductivity and enhance the mechanical strength to suppress Li [...] Read more.

Due to the intrinsically high ionic conductivity and good interfacial stability towards lithium, garnet-type solid electrolytes are usually introduced into polymer electrolytes as fillers to prepare polymer/garnet composite electrolytes, which can improve the ionic conductivity and enhance the mechanical strength to suppress Li dendrites. However, the surface Li₂CO₃ and/or LiOH passive layers which form when garnet is exposed to the air greatly reduce the enhancement effect of garnet on the composite electrolyte. Furthermore, compared with micro-size particles, nano-size garnet fillers exhibit a better effect on enhancing the performance of composite solid electrolytes. Nevertheless, inferior organic/inorganic interphase compatibility and high specific surface energy of nanofillers inevitably cause agglomeration, which severely hinders the effect of nanoparticles for promoting composite solid electrolytes. Herein, a cost-effective amphipathic 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane coupling agent is introduced to modify garnet fillers, which effectively expands the air stability of garnet and greatly improves the dispersion of garnet fillers in the polymer matrix. The well-dispersed garnet filler/polymer interface is intimate through the bridging effect of the silane coupling agent, resulting in boosted ionic conductivity (0.72 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm at room temperature) of the composite electrolyte, enhanced stability against lithium dendrites (critical current density > 0.5 mA/cm²), and prolonged cycling life of LFP/Li full cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zn-Based Batteries: Recent Progresses and Challenges)

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13 pages, 3334 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Highly Flexible Stencil Printed Alkaline Ag₂O-Zn Battery for Wearable Electronics

by Akash Kota, Lenin W. Kum, Kavya Vallurupalli, Ashish Gogia, Amy T. Neidhard-Doll and Vamsy P. Chodavarapu

Batteries 2022, 8(7), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries8070074 - 16 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2579

Abstract

Flexible power sources such as batteries are essential to realize wearable and conformable electronic devices. The mechanical stability of the electrodes plays an important role in determining the overall flexibility of the battery. Styrene block copolymers-based elastomers have the potential to be used [...] Read more.

Flexible power sources such as batteries are essential to realize wearable and conformable electronic devices. The mechanical stability of the electrodes plays an important role in determining the overall flexibility of the battery. Styrene block copolymers-based elastomers have the potential to be used as binder materials in the electrodes for retaining their structural integrity under flexing during regular use. In this work, we demonstrate a stencil-printed flexible primary Ag₂O-Zn battery on a nonconductive nylon mesh substrate that uses styrene-butadiene rubber as the anodic binder. A polyacrylic acid-based alkaline polymer gel is used as an electrolyte. The flexible alkaline battery achieved discharge capacities of

2.5 mAh

and

1.6 mAh

without and with a bend radius of 0.8

cm

, respectively, under a constant current load condition of

0.1 mA

. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zn-Based Batteries: Recent Progresses and Challenges)

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Review

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13 pages, 2273 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Porous Electrode Materials for Zn-Ion Batteries: From Fabrication and Electrochemical Application

by Qixin Yang, Qingjiang Liu, Wei Ling, Haojiang Dai, Huanhui Chen, Jianghe Liu, Yejun Qiu and Liubiao Zhong

Batteries 2022, 8(11), 223; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries8110223 - 07 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2494

Abstract

Porous materials as electrode materials have demonstrated numerous benefits for high-performance Zn-ion batteries in recent years. In brief, porous materials as positive electrodes provide distinctive features such as faster electron transport, shorter ion diffusion distance, and richer electroactive reaction sites, which improve the [...] Read more.

Porous materials as electrode materials have demonstrated numerous benefits for high-performance Zn-ion batteries in recent years. In brief, porous materials as positive electrodes provide distinctive features such as faster electron transport, shorter ion diffusion distance, and richer electroactive reaction sites, which improve the kinetics of positive electrode reactions and achieve higher rate capacity. On the other hand, the porous structures as negative electrodes also exhibit electrochemical properties possessing higher surface area and reducing local current density, which favors the uniform Zn deposition and restrains the dendrite formation. In view of their advantages, porous electrode materials for ZIB are expected to be extensively applied in electric and hybrid electric vehicles and portable electronic devices. In this review, we highlight the methods of synthesizing porous electrode materials and discuss the mechanism of action of porous structures as electrodes on their electrochemical properties. At the end of this review, the perspectives on the future development of porous materials in the field of electrochemical energy storage are also discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zn-Based Batteries: Recent Progresses and Challenges)

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29 pages, 12861 KiB

Open AccessReview

Electrolyte Additive Strategies for Suppression of Zinc Dendrites in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

by Chongyuan Zhai, Dandi Zhao, Yapeng He, Hui Huang, Buming Chen, Xue Wang and Zhongcheng Guo

Batteries 2022, 8(10), 153; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries8100153 - 02 Oct 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5919

Abstract

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) with metal zinc as the anode possess the features of safety, environmental friendliness, and high specific capacity, which have attracted a great deal of attention in the past few years. The accompanying zinc dendrites are an important problem that [...] Read more.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) with metal zinc as the anode possess the features of safety, environmental friendliness, and high specific capacity, which have attracted a great deal of attention in the past few years. The accompanying zinc dendrites are an important problem that endangers the battery performance. Therefore, the extensive research on the suppression strategies of Zn dendrites reflects a positive effect on improving the performance of ZIBs. In particular, the electrolyte additives (EAs) approach is considered a simple, reliable, and low-cost strategy to address the zinc dendritic issues and can inhibit or alleviate the growth of zinc dendrites while facilitating the amelioration of adverse reactions. In this review, the principles and processes of zinc dendrites, corrosion passivation, and hydrogen evolution side reactions on zinc anodes of ZIBs are firstly categorized. Then, the mitigation and inhibition of zinc dendrites and side reactions via different kinds of EAs are elaborated according to the regulation strategies of EAs, which provides an overview of the research on EAs conducted in recent years and proposed strategies to solve zinc dendrites and other problems. Finally, a reasonable outlook on the future improvement and development of EAs for ZIBs is described, which could provide some guidance for the evolution and design of EAs in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zn-Based Batteries: Recent Progresses and Challenges)

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16 pages, 4483 KiB

Open AccessReview

Transition Metal Dichalcogenides for High−Performance Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries

by Baishan Liu

Batteries 2022, 8(7), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries8070062 - 29 Jun 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2790

Abstract

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) with cost—effectiveness, air stability, and remarkable energy density have attracted increasing attention for potential energy storage system applications. The unique electrical properties and competitive layer spacing of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) provide dramatical freedom for facilitating ion diffusion [...] Read more.

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) with cost—effectiveness, air stability, and remarkable energy density have attracted increasing attention for potential energy storage system applications. The unique electrical properties and competitive layer spacing of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) provide dramatical freedom for facilitating ion diffusion and intercalation, making TMDs suitable for ZIB cathode materials. The recently updated advance of TMDs for high−performance ZIB cathode materials have been summarized in this review. In particular, the key modification strategies of TMDs for realizing the full potential in ZIBs are highlighted. Finally, the insights for further development of TMDs as ZIB cathodes are proposed, to guide the research directions related to the design of aqueous ZIBs while approaching the theoretical performance metrics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zn-Based Batteries: Recent Progresses and Challenges)

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17 pages, 4427 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Recent Progress and Challenges of Flexible Zn-Based Batteries with Polymer Electrolyte

by Funian Mo, Binbin Guo, Wei Ling, Jun Wei, Lina Chen, Suzhu Yu and Guojin Liang

Batteries 2022, 8(6), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries8060059 - 18 Jun 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4332

Abstract

Zn-based batteries have been identified as promising candidates for flexible and wearable batteries because of their merits of intrinsic safety, eco-efficiency, high capacity and cost-effectiveness. Polymer electrolytes, which feature high solubility of zinc salts and softness, are especially advantageous for flexible Zn-based batteries. [...] Read more.

Zn-based batteries have been identified as promising candidates for flexible and wearable batteries because of their merits of intrinsic safety, eco-efficiency, high capacity and cost-effectiveness. Polymer electrolytes, which feature high solubility of zinc salts and softness, are especially advantageous for flexible Zn-based batteries. However, many technical issues still need to be addressed in Zn-based batteries with polymer electrolytes for their future application in wearable electronics. Recent progress in advanced flexible Zn-based batteries based on polymer electrolytes, including functional hydrogel electrolytes and solid polymer electrolytes, as well as the interfacial interactions between polymer electrolytes and electrodes in battery devices, is comprehensively reviewed and discussed with a focus on their fabrication, performance validation, and intriguing affiliated functions. Moreover, relevant challenges and some potential strategies are also summarized and analyzed to help inform the future direction of polymer-electrolyte-based flexible Zn-based batteries with high practicability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zn-Based Batteries: Recent Progresses and Challenges)

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