Unleashing the high energy potential of zinc–iodide batteries: high-loaded thick electrodes designed with zinc iodide as the cathode

Abstract

The realization of high energy is of great importance to unlock the practical potential of zinc-iodine batteries. However, significant challenges, such as low iodine loading (mostly less than 50 wt%),...

Commercially available ionic liquids enable high-performance aqueous zinc–iodine batteries: sequestered nitrogen-sites for efficient electrocatalytic iodine conversion

“…S4b and c†). 6,7 The nucleation overpotential is the specific electrochemical potential at which the reduction of zinc ions initiates on the electrodes, which is observed while sweeping the potential from −0.2 V to 2.0 V in the CV curves of Zn//Ti cells. The potential is located at the crossover point A (crossover potential), and Zn ions start to be reduced on the electrode at point B, where nucleation overpotential is a potential disparity between A and B.…”

“…S4f†). 6,7,29 In what follows, the long-term cycling stability of zinc anodes in electrolytes containing DMPII has been assessed using Zn//Zn symmetric cells. This investigation aims to evaluate the efficacy of DMPII as an additive in inhibiting dendrite formation, a critical factor in the safety of zinc-based cells.…”

“…This finding suggests that the incorporation of the DMPII-based electrolyte effectively mitigates the formation of electrochemically inert by-products during the zinc plating and stripping processes, thereby enhancing the electrochemical performance of zinc–iodine batteries. 4–7…”

“…Aqueous zinc batteries have emerged as highly attractive energy storage candidates due to their confluence of desirable features, 1–7 which are abundant and inexpensive metallic zinc resources, low fabrication costs, and favorable electrochemical properties. 2,8–13 Among various cathode materials of zinc batteries, iodine offers a compelling combination of properties for rechargeable zinc–iodine batteries (Zn–I 2 ), which boast a high theoretical specific capacity of 211 mA h g −1 , a favorable discharge potential plateau of 1.38 V versus Zn/Zn 2+ , and readily available resources with estimated concentrations of 55 µg L −1 in seawater.…”