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Vol. 16 (2024)

Ultrathin Zincophilic Interphase Regulated Electric Double Layer Enabling Highly Stable Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-023-01312-1
Yimei Chen
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211‑116 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Zhiping Deng
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211‑116 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Yongxiang Sun
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211‑116 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Yue Zhang
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211‑116 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Hao Zhang
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211‑116 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Ge Li
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211‑116 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Hongbo Zeng
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211‑116 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Xiaolei Wang
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211‑116 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada

Corresponding Author: Xiaolei Wang

xiaolei.wang@ualberta.ca

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 16 (2024), Article Number: 96

Abstract

The practical application of aqueous zinc-ion batteries for large-grid scale systems is still hindered by uncontrolled zinc dendrite and side reactions. Regulating the electrical double layer via the electrode/electrolyte interface layer is an effective strategy to improve the stability of Zn anodes. Herein, we report an ultrathin zincophilic ZnS layer as a model regulator. At a given cycling current, the cell with Zn@ZnS electrode displays a lower potential drop over the Helmholtz layer (stern layer) and a suppressed diffuse layer, indicating the regulated charge distribution and decreased electric double layer repulsion force. Boosted zinc adsorption sites are also expected as proved by the enhanced electric double-layer capacitance. Consequently, the symmetric cell with the ZnS protection layer can stably cycle for around 3,000 h at 1 mA cm−2 with a lower overpotential of 25 mV. When coupled with an I2/AC cathode, the cell demonstrates a high rate performance of 160 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 and long cycling stability of over 10,000 cycles at 10 A g−1. The Zn||MnO2 also sustains both high capacity and long cycling stability of 130 mAh g−1 after 1,200 cycles at 0.5 A g−1.


Highlights:
1 Electric double-layer regulation enabled by an ultrathin multifunctional solid electrolyte interphase layer with zincophilicity and rapid transport kinetics.
2 Lowered potential drop over the Helmholtz layer and suppressed diffuse layer.
3 Inhibited side reactions and uniform zinc deposition.

Keywords

Zinc anode Electric double-layer regulation Multifunction SEI layer Inhibited side reactions and dendrite Rapid kinetics
Chen, Yimei, Zhiping Deng, Yongxiang Sun, Yue Zhang, Hao Zhang, Ge Li, Hongbo Zeng, and Xiaolei Wang. 2024. “Ultrathin Zincophilic Interphase Regulated Electric Double Layer Enabling Highly Stable Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries”. Nano-Micro Letters 16 (January):96. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-023-01312-1.
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