Rechargeable Alkaline Zinc/Copper Oxide Batteries

Abstract

Resurrecting a battery chemistry thought to be only primary, we demonstrate the first example of a rechargeable alkaline zinc/copper oxide battery. With the incorporation of a Bi2O3 additive to stabilize the copper oxide-based conversion cathode, Zn/(CuO–Bi2O3) cells are capable of cycling over 100 times at >124 W h/L, with capacities from 674 mA h/g (cycle 1) to 362 mA h/g (cycle 150). The crucial role of Bi2O3 in facilitating the electrochemical reversibility of Cu2O, Cu­(OH)2, and Cuo was supported by scanning and transmission electrochemical microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and rotating ring-disc electrode voltammetry and monitored via operando energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction measurements. Bismuth was identified as serving two roles, decreasing the cell resistance and promoting Cu­(I) and Cu­(II) reduction. To mitigate the capacity losses of long-term cycling CuO cells, we demonstrate two limited depth of discharge (DOD) strategies. First, a 30% DOD (202 mA h/g) retains 99.9% capacity over 250 cycles. Second, the modification of the CuO cathode by the inclusion of additional Cu metal enables performance at very high areal capacities of ∼40 mA h/cm2 and unprecedented energy densities of ∼260 W h/L, with near 100% Coulombic efficiency. This work revitalizes a historically primary battery chemistry and opens opportunity to future works in developing copper-based conversion cathode chemistries for the realization of low-cost, safe, and energy-dense secondary batteries.

Hollow Cuprous Oxide@Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Nanocapsules for Cascade Chemodynamic Therapy

“…[ 13 ] The concentric diffraction rings (the inset in Figure 1c) showed that HCONC has polycrystalline characteristics, and the corresponding diffraction ring indices were marked. [ 14 ] In addition, a carbon layer with a thickness of 1.88 nm was observed on the surface of Cu 2 O nanocrystals, which improved the dispersity of HCONC in aqueous solution. The chemical composition and element mapping of HCONC were obtained from high‐angle annular dark‐field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF‐STEM).…”

A Critical Comparison of Mildly Acidic versus Alkaline Zinc Batteries

“…. While standalone CuO proved to be a nonideal cathode material, 5 this work and a new study on carbon coated Cu o /Bi o (Figures S3 and S4) show that morphology and additives play a decisive role in the 2− is expected to be similarly critical for extending the cycle life of Zn||CuO batteries, Figure 1c.…”

“…Schematic of (c) CuO||Bi 2 O 3 cathode transformation and (d) corresponding cycle performances of Zn||(CuO/Bi 2 O 3 ) AZB. Reproduced with permissions from ref . Copyright 2021 The Authors.…”

The advent of membrane-less zinc-anode aqueous batteries with lithium battery-like voltage

“…5A), which is 41 V higher than that of their liquid counterparts. [28][29][30][31] We then manufactured a prototype version of the new high voltage membrane-less Zn|MnO 2 , shown in Fig. 5B.…”