Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yizhou Wang, Xiangming Xu, Jian Yin, Gang Huang, Tianchao Guo, Zhengnan Tian, Rajeh Alsaadi, Yunpei Zhu, Husam N. Alshareef
Summary: In this study, large-area, mono-orientated 2D material (MoS2) is used for the first time to electrodeposit truly epitaxial Zn anodes. The continuous MoS2 films are shown to be an effective strategy for suppressing metal dendrites.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qinghe Cao, Zhenghui Pan, Yong Gao, Jie Pu, Gangwen Fu, Guanghua Cheng, Cao Guan
Summary: A zincophilic zinc foil with 3D micropatterns is successfully fabricated using a laser imprinting strategy, which enables stable operation at high currents and high capacities. The strategy effectively regulates the distribution of Zn2+ ions and prevents short circuit caused by dendrite growth.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hui Zhang, Yongjian Wu, Jing Yu, Tongtong Jiang, Mingzai Wu
Summary: A multifunctional sieve (MS) consisting of inorganic nanolayers and organic molecule layers was proposed to solve the multiple issues of Zn-metal anode in Zn ion battery (ZIB), including corrosion reaction, hydrogen evolution, and dendrite growth. The MS, represented by SA@TiO2-MS, could accelerate Zn2+ diffusion, repel H2O, and bind with OH- on the surface of zinc anodes, effectively alleviating the detrimental effects and prolonging the lifespan of the battery.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Leilei Zheng, Huihua Li, Xi Wang, Zhen Chen, Chen Hu, Kaidi Wang, Gaoli Guo, Stefano Passerini, Huang Zhang
Summary: Methylammonium acetate was found to enhance the reversibility and stability of the Zn anode as an electrolyte additive. Acetate anions competitively engage the Zn2+ solvation structure, reducing water reactivity and promoting anion-enriched electrolyte structure, which effectively suppresses byproducts and dendrite formation. The formation of an anion-derived, robust solid electrolyte interphase with an inorganic/organic hybrid structure enables improved cycling performance in Zn||Na3V2(PO4)(3) batteries and Zn||activated carbon capacitors.
ACS ENERGY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhenhai Shi, Meng Yang, Yufeng Ren, Yizhou Wang, Junhong Guo, Jian Yin, Feili Lai, Wenli Zhang, Suli Chen, Husam N. Alshareef, Tianxi Liu
Summary: In this study, a multifunctional fluorapatite (Ca-5(PO4)(3)F) aerogel (FAG) interface layer is proposed to achieve highly stable zinc anodes through the regulation of Zn2+ migration and Zn (002) orientation deposition. The FAG interface layer significantly enhances Zn2+ migration, promotes uniform nucleation of Zn2+, and suppresses dendrite growth and side reactions. The modified zinc anode exhibits a stable cycle life and reversible Zn plating/stripping behavior, making it suitable for commercial applications of aqueous zinc-based batteries.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Le Li, Shaofeng Jia, Minghui Cao, Yongqiang Ji, Hengwei Qiu, Dan Zhang
Summary: This paper presents a systematic review of modified Zn substrates in stabilizing zinc anodes. The working mechanism of anodes and the challenges of stabilized zinc anodes are briefly summarized. The design principles and recent progress of modified Zn substrates in stabilizing zinc anodes are reviewed, and the major prospects and challenges of the future development of modified Zn substrates in stabilizing zinc anodes are proposed.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Bingkun Huang, Jisheng Song, Hideo Kimura, YingFan Li, Yinyingjie Xu, Kunjie Yang, Mangwei Cui, Lingyu Du, Litao Kang
Summary: In this study, a dense and uniform poly (ethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate) (PEGMA) artificial protecting layer is reported to alleviate the dendrite and corrosion issues of the zinc metal anode in rechargeable aqueous Zn-ion batteries. The protecting layer prevents direct contact between the electrolyte and the zinc anode, while guiding the uniform migration of Zn2+ ions. The experimental results show that this strategy significantly improves the cycling stability and Coulombic efficiencies of the batteries.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xuejun Zhu, Tingting Wei, Xianxi Zhang, Yingke Ren, Hong Zhang, Zhaoqian Li, Li'e Mo, Linhua Hu
Summary: This study utilizes 3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethyl-2(5H)-furanone (HDF) to modify the solvation environment of the electrolyte, resulting in a dendrite-free zinc anode with high reversibility and stability.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yong Gao, Qinghe Cao, Jie Pu, Xin Zhao, Gangwen Fu, Jipeng Chen, Yuxuan Wang, Cao Guan
Summary: A triple-gradient electrode for dendrite-free Zn anode was constructed through a simple mechanical rolling-induced design, which effectively optimized the Zn2+ ion flux and achieved bottom-up deposition behavior, thereby preventing short circuit and improving cycle life and stability.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Haiji Huang, Dongmei Xie, Jiachang Zhao, Pinhua Rao, Won Mook Choi, Kenneth Davey, Jianfeng Mao
Summary: This study reports a method to control the electrolyte structure and interface in aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) by adding trace amounts of the organic compound GBL. The addition of GBL weakens the bonding strength between zinc ions and solvated water, reducing water activity and suppressing corrosion and side products. This method improves the stability and cycling life of the zinc anode significantly, and maintains stability and high capacity under harsh testing conditions.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hefei Fan, Haoxiang Zhang, Qianfeng Liu, Min Li, Lu Liu, Jianxin Gao, Qiang Zhang, Erdong Wang
Summary: This study proposes a biphasic electrolyte based on the salting out effect to comprehensively enhance the electrochemical performance of aqueous Zn metal batteries. On the Zn anode side, the organic-rich phase electrolyte reduces water content and manipulates the solvation structure of Zn2+, resulting in a uniform ZnOHF solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI). On the cathode side, the aqueous phase electrolyte maintains fast ionic conductivity and modifies the electrode/electrolyte interface property due to residual organic molecules, accelerating the redox kinetics.
ACS ENERGY LETTERS
(2023)
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jianyu Chen, Yizhou Wang, Zhengnan Tian, Jin Zhao, Yanwen Ma, Husam N. Alshareef
Summary: This review provides an up-to-date review of the progress in three-dimensional (3D) structured zinc metal anodes for improving the performance of aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs). By modulating the plating/stripping behavior of the zinc anode, dendrite formation can be suppressed, resulting in enhanced battery performance.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tian Chen Li, Yew Von Lim, Xuesong Xie, Xue Liang Li, Guojing Li, Daliang Fang, Yifan Li, Yee Sin Ang, Lay Kee Ang, Hui Ying Yang
Summary: A modified Zn foil with a zincophilic ZnSe layer is proposed in this study, showing lower nucleation energy barrier and faster ion diffusion kinetics in aqueous systems. At the same time, detrimental zinc corrosion is effectively mitigated. Experimental results demonstrate exceptional cycling stability for the ZnSe@Zn/MnO2 full cell over 500 cycles.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Penghui Cao, Jingjing Tang, Anran Wei, Qixian Bai, Qi Meng, Sicheng Fan, Han Ye, Yulin Zhou, Xiangyang Zhou, Juan Yang
Summary: The formation of Zn dendrites is ultimately determined by Zn nucleation and growth process, with the Ni5Zn21 alloy coating (ZnNi) promoting uniform nucleation of Zn. The strong binding ability of ZnNi to Zn leads to preferential nucleation around ZnNi, resulting in stable Zn metal anodes with ultra-long cycling performance.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jiaqi Huang, Xiaowei Chi, Yuexiu Du, Qiliang Qiu, Yu Liu
Summary: The study introduces an electrolyte consisting of acetamide/zinc perchlorate hexahydrate ionic liquid and polyacrylamide polymer, which effectively stabilizes the zinc anode, suppresses side reactions and dendrite growth, and leads to longer battery lifespan.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Wenjia Qu, Jingyi Xia, Chong Luo, Chen Zhang, Renjie Chen, Wei Lv, Quanhong Yang
Summary: High-energy-density batteries that can operate at a wide temperature range are in high demand for performance-critical applications. Lithium-sulfur batteries show promise as high-energy-density batteries capable of maintaining performance in extreme temperatures. However, issues such as shuttle effect, safety concerns, sluggish reaction kinetics, and charge-transfer process hinder their practical use in extreme temperature conditions. This paper comprehensively discusses the challenges faced by high and low-temperature lithium-sulfur batteries and proposes solutions that focus on electrolyte and electrode materials to overcome these challenges and extend the operating temperature range of these batteries.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Qi Li, Yibo Zhang, Zhengyu Chen, Jun Zhang, Ying Tao, Quan-Hong Yang
Summary: Graphite has been widely used in commercial lithium-ion batteries, but it also shows great potential as an anode for high-energy potassium-ion batteries. This study introduces a new carbon anode material that promotes the formation of KC8, leading to improved battery performance and providing new insights for the design of high-energy and high-power PIBs.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Qiqi Li, Zhijie Zhang, Yang Li, Huan Li, Ziyang Liu, Xingjiang Liu, Qiang Xu
Summary: This study presents a novel DES-based rapid self-healing gel electrolyte for lithium metal batteries, which can achieve high specific capacity and durable cyclic stability by solidifying the electrolyte and enhancing its electrochemical stability.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Wenjia Qu, Ziyang Lu, Chuannan Geng, Li Wang, Yong Guo, Yibo Zhang, Weichao Wang, Wei Lv, Quan-Hong Yang
Summary: The sluggish kinetics of the sulfur evolution reaction in lithium-sulfur batteries can be improved by designing suitable catalysts. In this study, NaxTi0.5Co0.5O2 was used as a model catalyst to enhance the catalytic oxidation activity of Li2S by adjusting its electronic structure. The results showed that Na0.7Ti0.5Co0.5O2 effectively lowered the activation potential of Li2S, reducing polarization and exhibiting excellent rate performance.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiaolin Ye, Daliang Han, Guangyi Jiang, Changjun Cui, Yong Guo, Yaogang Wang, Zhicheng Zhang, Zhe Weng, Quan-Hong Yang
Summary: Aqueous rechargeable batteries based on MnO2 are attracting attention due to their high theoretical capacity and redox potential, as well as their low cost and safety. However, the chemistry of MnO2 deposition/dissolution is not well understood, hampering its practical use in batteries. This study used an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance technique to investigate the deposition/dissolution process and discovered that it involves pH-dependent Mn(iii)-intermediates. The presence of dissolved Mn3+ decreases the battery's performance, but the problem can be addressed by introducing redox mediators into the electrolyte.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhiyuan Han, Hong-Rui Ren, Zhijia Huang, Yunbo Zhang, Sichen Gu, Chen Zhang, Wenhua Liu, Jinlong Yang, Guangmin Zhou, Quan-Hong Yang, Wei Lv
Summary: Researchers have developed a protective layer similar to the ion-permselective cell membrane for lithium-sulfur batteries, which prevents corrosion and dendrite growth on the lithium metal anode. This layer, formed by the self-assembly of octadecylamine and Al3+ ions, contains a ionic conductive Al-Li alloy embedded in it, allowing for uniform lithium deposition and preventing polysulfide penetration. As a result, the batteries assembled with this protective layer exhibit excellent cycling stability, even with a high sulfur loaded cathode, offering a straightforward and promising strategy for stabilizing highly active anodes in practical applications.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xuerui Yi, Yong Guo, Sijia Chi, Siyuan Pan, Chuannan Geng, Mengyao Li, Zhenshen Li, Wei Lv, Shichao Wu, Quan-Hong Yang
Summary: This study addresses the challenge of interface incompatibilities in composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) by phosphatizing the LLZO surfaces, which ensures high air stability and suppresses PVDF-HFP dehydrofluorination. This improves the uniform distribution of ceramic and polymer phases, enhances ionic conductivity and transference number, and provides exceptional cycling performance for Li/CPE and cathode/CPE interfaces. This study highlights the importance of achieving electro-chemo-mechanical compatibilities for CPEs and offers a new waste to wealth route.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yue Chu, Jun Zhang, Yibo Zhang, Qi Li, Yiran Jia, Ximan Dong, Jing Xiao, Ying Tao, Quan-Hong Yang
Summary: Hard carbons, as a category of non-graphitizable amorphous carbons, are considered the most promising anode materials for emerging sodium-ion batteries due to their changeable low-potential charge/discharge plateaus. This review revisits the definitions and structural models of hard carbons and presents a renewed understanding of their sodium storage. Three critical structural features, namely crystallites, defects, and nanopores, are highlighted for their impact on sodium storage. The review proposes sieving carbons as an ideal configuration for high-capacity carbon anodes, aiming to facilitate the industrialization of sodium-ion batteries and explore new potential uses.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rui Sun, Daliang Han, Changjun Cui, Zishan Han, Xiaoxia Guo, Bo Zhang, Yong Guo, Yingxin Liu, Zhe Weng, Quan-Hong Yang
Summary: We uncover the corrosion mechanism in aqueous zinc batteries, and find that dissolved oxygen is the main cause of zinc corrosion and by-product precipitates. We propose a chemical self-deoxygenation strategy using sodium anthraquinone-2-sulfonate as a self-deoxidizing additive, which successfully solves the hazards caused by oxygen. The zinc anode exhibits a long-term cycling performance with high Coulombic efficiency and capacity retention. These findings are important for understanding zinc corrosion in aqueous electrolytes and industrializing aqueous zinc batteries.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yingxin Liu, Xin Jiang, Li Wang, Rongwei Meng, Quanjun Tang, Yong Guo, Zishan Han, Guowei Ling, Chen Zhang, Quan-Hong Yang
Summary: Seawater batteries (SWBs) are crucial for maritime safety and resource development due to their safety, long lifespan, and eco-friendly nature. However, the presence of S2- in seawater can poison catalysts and degrade battery performance. In this study, a zinc single-atom catalyst (Zn SAC) anchored on an N, P-doped carbon substrate (Zn-SAC@PNC) was synthesized and demonstrated to have high anti-poisoning properties. The Zn-SAC@PNC exhibited superior activity and stability in the presence of S2-, making it a promising cathode material for SWBs in the marine environment.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Ziyun Zhao, Fanqi Chen, Junwei Han, Debin Kong, Siyuan Pan, Jing Xiao, Shichao Wu, Quan-Hong Yang
Summary: The development of high-performance electrode materials for energy storage has been a major focus. Silicon, particularly in the form of nano-Si, has shown promise for lithium battery anodes, but faces challenges related to cost, side reactions, and volumetric performance. Micro-Si, with its advantages of low cost, high tap density, and low interfacial reaction, is gaining attention as a potential solution.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chuannan Geng, Wenjia Qu, Zhiyuan Han, Li Wang, Wei Lv, Quan-Hong Yang
Summary: The poor reversibility of high-energy-density Li-S batteries is mainly caused by the polysulfide shuttling and electrode structure destruction. This study highlights the significance of Coulombic efficiency (CE) in evaluating Li-S batteries and proposes a remedy for low efficiencies by in situ coating Li2S cathode with polymerizable electrolyte additives. The coating catalytically decreases the initial overpotential of Li2S and inhibits the shuttling of lithium polysulfides, leading to improved CE and reduced sulfur loss during cycling.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhaoguo Liu, Ziyang Lu, Shaohua Guo, Quan-Hong Yang, Haoshen Zhou
Summary: Sodium-ion batteries are a promising energy storage technology, but the unstable interfaces of the electrodes pose challenges for building anode-free cells. Manipulating the desolvation process through the nanoconfining strategy has been emphasized as an effective way to stabilize the interface. This Outlook provides a comprehensive understanding of the nanopore-based solvation structure regulation strategy and its role in building practical SIBs and anode-free batteries.
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Boyang Niu, Yibo Zhang, Yu Long, Juan Zhao, Qi Li, Boya Zhang, Ying Tao, Quan-Hong Yang
Summary: MXenes have great potential as fast-charging anodes for sodium storage due to their excellent electrical conductivity, high pseudocapacitive charge storage, and large interlayer distance. The enhancement of laminate structures in a pre-assembled Ti3C2Tx network is achieved, and a dense monolith with both high density and high porosity is obtained. This MXene anode material delivers a high capacity and a superior rate performance, and has a high volumetric capacity even after a large number of cycles. New insights are provided into the design of high-capacity MXene anodes for sodium-ion batteries and control of different 2D materials in compact structures.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bochao Chen, Zijia Qi, Biao Chen, Xin Liu, Huan Li, Xiaopeng Han, Guangmin Zhou, Wenbin Hu, Naiqin Zhao, Chunnian He
Summary: This study develops a facile and green recyclability room-temperature salt template antisolvent precipitation strategy for the preparation of nitrogen-doped 3D porous carbon (N-3DPC). In situ Raman and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analyses reveal that N-3DPC exhibits highly reversible adsorption, fill, and intercalation reaction mechanisms, resulting in superior alkali metal-ion storage performance.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
