ZnO@SnO₂ Micron Flower as an Anode Material to Enhance the Cycling Performance of Zinc–Nickel Secondary Batteries

Abstract

ZnO@SnO 2 micron flowers with loose and porous surfaces are obtained by a one-step hydrothermal process. This flower-like structure of stacked sheets expands the contact area for electrode reaction and reduces the current density, which helps to suppress polarization. In addition, Sn increases the electrical conductivity of the material and hydrogen evolution overpotential of the electrode, resulting in a great improvement in the utilization of the anodic material. The design of this anode composite can effectively solve the problems of short cycle life and poor cycle performance of zinc-based batteries to a certain extent. According to this study, the ZnO@SnO 2 electrode is still able to achieve a discharge specific capacity of 539 mAh•g −1 after 1000 cycles, which is 92.3% of the initial discharge specific capacity (584 mAh•g −1 ). Flower-like ZnO@SnO 2 has excellent cycling performance at high rates as an anodic material for zinc−nickel secondary batteries.

ZnO@ATO as an Anode Material to Achieve Ultra-long Stable Cycling for Zinc–Nickel Secondary Batteries

“…In general, a smaller corrosion current and a higher corrosion potential tend to mean that the electrode material has a stronger corrosion resistance. 31 The corrosion potentials of commercial ZnO, spherical ZnO, and ZnO@ATO are −1.403, −1.397, and −1.387 V, and their corrosion current densities are 2.89 × 10 −2 , 2.16 × 10 −2� , and 1.56 × 10 −2 A•cm −2 , respectively. Among the three electrode materials, ZnO@ATO has a smaller corrosion current density and more positive corrosion potential, which also reflects the better corrosion resistance of ZnO@ATO.…”

“…The Tafel curve (Figure c) is usually used to evaluate the corrosion resistance of electrode materials, and the corrosion current density ( i corr ) and corrosion potential ( E corr ) are two important bases for evaluation. In general, a smaller corrosion current and a higher corrosion potential tend to mean that the electrode material has a stronger corrosion resistance . The corrosion potentials of commercial ZnO, spherical ZnO, and ZnO@ATO are −1.403, −1.397, and −1.387 V, and their corrosion current densities are 2.89 × 10 –2 , 2.16 × 10 –2 , and 1.56 × 10 –2 A·cm –2 , respectively.…”

“…When the temperature rises to 100 °C, the corresponding weight loss is the evaporation of liquid water from the material. In the temperature change interval of 100–250 °C, the slow decrease in the thermogravimetric curve may be related to the loss of structural water in the sample . The precursor starts to transform into nano-ATO when the temperature exceeds 250 °C.…”

“…In the temperature change interval of 100−250 °C, the slow decrease in the thermogravimetric curve may be related to the loss of structural water in the sample. 31 The precursor starts to transform into nano-ATO when the temperature exceeds 250 °C. After the temperature reached 500 °C, the weight of the sample basically did not change, indicating that the target product ZnO@ATO had been formed and the composite had good thermal stability.…”

Alkaline Ni−Zn Rechargeable Batteries for Sustainable Energy Storage: Battery Components, Deterioration Mechanisms, and Impact of Additives

“…Qin et al [80] showed that when anode related issues are eliminated, battery polarization is mostly caused by the cathode and in fact, the kinetic of Zn deposition and dissolution is substantially faster than that of NiOOH/Ni(OH) 2 and O 2 /OH À . As demon- [66,76,77] strated in Figure 4(b) and (c), oxygen evolution becomes significant above the potential of 550 mV vs Hg/HgO and thus, it is reasonable to limit the cycling of this electrode to this value. [85]…”