Sulfolane-containing aqueous electrolyte solutions for producing efficient ampere-hour-level zinc metal battery pouch cells

Yu Wang, Tairan Wang, Shuyu Bu, Jiaxiong Zhu, Yanbo Wang, Rong Zhang, Hu Hong, Wenjun Zhang, Jun Fan () and Chunyi Zhi ()
Additional contact information
Yu Wang: Hong Kong Center for Cerebro-Cardiovascular Health Engineering (COCHE)
Tairan Wang: City University of Hong Kong
Shuyu Bu: City University of Hong Kong
Jiaxiong Zhu: City University of Hong Kong
Yanbo Wang: City University of Hong Kong
Rong Zhang: City University of Hong Kong
Hu Hong: City University of Hong Kong
Wenjun Zhang: City University of Hong Kong
Jun Fan: City University of Hong Kong
Chunyi Zhi: Hong Kong Center for Cerebro-Cardiovascular Health Engineering (COCHE)

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Aqueous zinc metal batteries are appealing candidates for grid energy storage. However, the inadequate electrochemical reversibility of the zinc metal negative electrode inhibits the battery performance at the large-scale cell level. Here, we develop practical ampere-hour-scale aqueous Zn metal battery pouch cells by engineering the electrolyte solution. After identifying the proton reduction as the primary source of H2 evolution during Zn metal electrodeposition, we design an electrolyte solution containing reverse micelle structures where sulfolane molecules constrain water in nanodomains to hinder proton reduction. Furthermore, we develop and validate an electrochemical testing protocol to comprehensively evaluate the cell’s coulombic efficiency and zinc metal electrode cycle life. Finally, using the reverse micelle electrolyte, we assemble and test a practical ampere-hour Zn||Zn0.25V2O5•nH2O multi-layer pouch cell capable of delivering an initial energy density of 70 Wh L−1 (based on the volume of the cell components), capacity retention of about 80% after 390 cycles at 56 mA g−1cathode and ~25 °C and prolonged cycling for 5 months at 56 mA g−1cathode and ~25 °C.

Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-37524-7 Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-37524-7

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37524-7

Access Statistics for this article

Nature Communications is currently edited by Nathalie Le Bot, Enda Bergin and Fiona Gillespie

More articles in Nature Communications from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().