Reliable power supplies at extremely high temperatures are urgently needed to broaden the application scenarios for electric devices. Aqueous zinc metal batteries (ZMBs) with intrinsic safety are a promising alterative for high-temperature energy storage. However, the reversibility and long-term cycling stability of aqueous ZMBs at extremely high temperatures (≥100 °C) have rarely been explored. Herein, we reveal that spontaneous Zn corrosion and severe electrochemical hydrogen evolution at high temperature are vital restrictions for traditional aqueous ZMBs. To address this, a crowding agent, 1,5-pentanediol, was introduced into an aqueous electrolyte to suppress water reactivity by strengthening O–H bonds of H2O and decreasing H2O content in the Zn2+ solvation sheath, while maintaining flame resistance of the electrolyte. Importantly, this electrolyte enabled reversible Zn deposition with a Coulombic efficiency of 98.1% and a long cycling life of Zn//Zn batteries for over 500 cycles (at 1 mA cm–2 and 0.5 mAh cm–2) at 100 °C. Moreover, stable cycling of Zn//Te full batteries at 100 °C was demonstrated.
Flexible aqueous batteries have been thriving with the growing demand for wearable and portable electrical devices. In particular, flexible aqueous multivalent ion batteries (FAMIBs), the charge carriers of which include Zn 2+ , Al 3+ , Mg 2+ , and Ca 2+ , have great potential for development owing to their high safety, high elemental abundance in the Earth's crust, and a multielectron redox mechanism with a high theoretical specific capacity. Therefore, for a comprehensive understanding of this developing field, it is necessary to summarize the recent research progress of FAMIBs in a timely manner.Herein, the advancements of the state-of-the-art FAMIBs are reviewed, and the prospects toward this field are also proposed. This study focuses on the rational material and configuration design for FAMIBs in recent studies to achieve high battery performances under deformation conditions, which is elaborated on by classification of the anode, cathode, hydrogel electrolyte, and configurations of FAMIBs. Besides, the electrochemical performance of FAMIBs under flexible conditions is also reviewed from the perspective of their working voltage, specific capacity, and cycling stability. Finally, the approaches to improve the performance of FAMIBs are comprehensively evaluated, followed by the outlook on the challenges and opportunities in future development of FAMIBs.
Zn anode is confronted with serious Zn dendrite growth and water‐induced parasitic reactions, which severely hinders the rapid development and practical application of aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs). Herein, inspired by sodium hyaluronate (SH) biomolecules in living organisms featured with the functions of water retention, ion‐transport regulation, and film‐formation, the SH working as a dynamic and self‐adaptive “mask” is proposed to stabilize Zn anode. Benefiting from the abundant functional groups with high hydrophilicity and zincophilicity, SH molecule can constrain active water molecules on the Zn‐electrolyte interface and participate in Zn2+ solvation structure to suppress parasitic reactions. Furthermore, the dynamical adsorption of SH with high‐density negative charge on the Zn surface could serve as Zn2+ reservoirs to guide uniform Zn deposition. Consequently, stable Zn plating and an ultrahigh cumulative plating capacity (CPC) of 4.8 Ah cm‐2 are achieved even at 20 mA cm‐2 (20 mAh cm‐2) in a Zn||Zn symmetric battery, reaching a record level in AZMBs. In addition, the Zn||β‐MnO2 full battery exhibits a substantially improved cycle stability. This work presents a route to realize a highly reversible and stable Zn metal anode by learning from nature.
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