Six-electron-conversion selenium cathodes stabilized by dead-selenium revitalizer for aqueous zinc batteries

Jingwei Du, Jiaxu Zhang, Xingyuan Chu, Hao Xu, Yirong Zhao, Markus Löffler, Gang Wang, Dongqi Li, Quanquan Guo, Ahiud Morag, Jie Du, Jianxin Zou, Daria Mikhailova, Vlastimil Mazánek, Zdeněk Sofer, Xinliang Feng () and Minghao Yu ()
Additional contact information
Jingwei Du: Technische Universität Dresden
Jiaxu Zhang: Technische Universität Dresden
Xingyuan Chu: Technische Universität Dresden
Hao Xu: Technische Universität Dresden
Yirong Zhao: Zellescher Weg 19
Markus Löffler: Helmholtzstraße 18
Gang Wang: Technische Universität Dresden
Dongqi Li: Technische Universität Dresden
Quanquan Guo: Weinberg 2
Ahiud Morag: Technische Universität Dresden
Jie Du: Technische Universität Dresden
Jianxin Zou: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Daria Mikhailova: Helmholtzstraße 20
Vlastimil Mazánek: Technická 5
Zdeněk Sofer: Technická 5
Xinliang Feng: Technische Universität Dresden
Minghao Yu: Technische Universität Dresden

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Aqueous zinc batteries are attractive for large-scale energy storage due to their inherent safety and sustainability. However, their widespread application has been constrained by limited energy density, underscoring a high demand of advanced cathodes with large capacity and high redox potential. Here, we report a reversible high-capacity six-electron-conversion Se cathode undergoing a ZnSe↔Se↔SeCl4 reaction, with Br−/Brn− redox couple effectively stabilizes the Zn | |Se cell. This Se conversion, initiated in a ZnCl2-based hydrogel electrolyte, presents rapid capacity decay (from 1937.3 to 394.1 mAh gSe−1 after only 50 cycles at 0.5 A gSe−1) primarily due to the dissolution of SeCl4 and its subsequent migration to the Zn anode, resulting in dead Se passivation. To address this, we incorporate the Br−/Brn− redox couple into the Zn | |Se cell by introducing bromide salt as an electrolyte additive. The generated Brn− species acts as a dead-Se revitalizer by reacting with Se passivation on the Zn anode and regenerating active Se for the cathode reaction. Consequently, the cycling stability of the Zn | |Se cell is improved, maintaining 1246.8 mAh gSe−1 after 50 cycles. Moreover, the Zn | |Se cell exhibits a specific capacity of 2077.6 mAh gSe−1 and specific energy of 404.2 Wh kg−1 based on the overall cell reaction.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58859-3

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