Decreasing Water Activity Using the Tetrahydrofuran Electrolyte Additive for Highly Reversible Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c17714
• Publication Date: 2023-01-25T16:23:04Z
• Authors: Wei He; Yao Ren; Buddhi Sagar Lamsal; Jyotshna Pokharel; Kena Zhang; Parashu Kharel; James J. Wu; Xiaojun Xian; Ye Cao; Yue Zhou
• Keywords: Tetrahydrofuran

Aqueous zinc metal batteries show great promise in large-scale energy storage. However, the decomposition of water molecules leads to severe side reactions, resulting limited lifespan Zn batteries. Here, tetrahydrofuran (THF) additive was introduced into sulfate (ZnSO4) electrolyte reduce activity by modulating solvation structure hydration layer. The THF molecule can play as a proton acceptor form hydrogen bonds with molecules, which prevent water-induced undesired reactions. Thus, an optimal 2 M ZnSO4/THF (5% volume) electrolyte, evolution reaction and byproduct precipitation be suppressed, greatly improves cycling stability Coulombic efficiency reversible plating/stripping. symmetrical cells exhibit ultralong working cycles wide range current density capacity. also enables high Zn||Cu cell average value 99.59% over 400 capacity retention 97.56% after 250 Zn||MnO2 full cells. This work offers effective strategy scalability low cost for protection electrodes aqueous rechargeable