The synergistic effect induced by "Z-bond" between cations and anions achieving a highly reversible zinc anode

Maojun Zhou; Kun Zhang; Li Gong; Leilei Sun; Guosheng Duan; Yangfan Lu; Zhean Bao; Sinan Zheng; Bin Luo; Jingyun Huang; Zhizhen Ye

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2024.12.129

The synergistic effect induced by "Z-bond" between cations and anions achieving a highly reversible zinc anode

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2024 Dec 20;683(Pt 2):92-105. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.12.129. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Maojun Zhou¹, Kun Zhang², Li Gong³, Leilei Sun⁴, Guosheng Duan⁴, Yangfan Lu⁵, Zhean Bao⁴, Sinan Zheng⁴, Bin Luo⁴, Jingyun Huang⁶, Zhizhen Ye⁷

Affiliations

¹ School of Materials Science and Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha 410114, PR China; Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oxide Semiconductors for Environmental and Optoelectronic Applications, Institute of Wenzhou, Zhejiang University, Wenzhou 325006, PR China.
² Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oxide Semiconductors for Environmental and Optoelectronic Applications, Institute of Wenzhou, Zhejiang University, Wenzhou 325006, PR China; Institute of Thermal Science and Power Systems Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, PR China.
³ School of Materials Science and Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha 410114, PR China; Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oxide Semiconductors for Environmental and Optoelectronic Applications, Institute of Wenzhou, Zhejiang University, Wenzhou 325006, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, PR China. Electronic address: gongli@csust.edu.cn.
⁴ Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oxide Semiconductors for Environmental and Optoelectronic Applications, Institute of Wenzhou, Zhejiang University, Wenzhou 325006, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, PR China.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, PR China.
⁶ Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oxide Semiconductors for Environmental and Optoelectronic Applications, Institute of Wenzhou, Zhejiang University, Wenzhou 325006, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, PR China. Electronic address: huangjy@zju.edu.cn.
⁷ Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oxide Semiconductors for Environmental and Optoelectronic Applications, Institute of Wenzhou, Zhejiang University, Wenzhou 325006, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, PR China. Electronic address: yezz@zju.edu.cn.

PMID: 39724836
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.12.129

Abstract

Due to their high energy density, low cost, and environmental friendliness, aqueous zinc-ion batteries are considered a potential alternative to Li-ion batteries. However, dendrite growth and parasitic reactions of water molecules limit their practical applications. Herein, an ionic liquid additive, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium Bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (BMImFSI), is introduced to regulate the electrical double layer (EDL). Both BMIm⁺ and FSI^- can preferentially adsorb on the Zn anode, constructing a water-poor EDL and thus effectively suppressing side reactions. Additionally, under the synergistic effect of the mineralized solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) formed by the decomposition of FSI^- and the ion dispersion layer constructed by BMIm⁺ on the mineralized SEI, the deposition of zinc ions is effectively dispersed, preventing excessive aggregation of zinc ions and thus dendrite formation. The Zn‖Zn symmetric cells using the BMImFSI/ZnSO₄ electrolyte operate stably for 1060 h and 560 h at 10 mA cm^-2-10 mAh cm^-2 and 20 mA cm^-2-20 mAh cm^-2, respectively. The Zn‖Cu asymmetric cell maintains an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.4 % after 1000 cycles. The capacity retention of a full cell using α-MnO₂ as the cathode is significantly improved at 1 A g^-1.

Keywords: Aqueous zinc-ion battery; BMImFSI additive; Solid electrolyte interphase; Synergistic effect; Z-bond.