Proceedings of MATSUS Spring 2025 Conference (MATSUSSpring25)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29363/nanoge.matsusspring.2025.405
Publication date: 16th December 2024
Rechargeable aqueous Zinc (Zn) batteries are one of the emerging beyond lithium-ion batteries that could fulfil the requirements of cost-effective, safe, and reliable large-scale storage systems.[1,2] Zn metal is abundant, globally available, and non-toxic, with a promising theoretical capacity of 820 mA h/g.[3] However, aqueous Zn batteries encounter several degradations upon cycling due to the dendrite formation, poor Coulombic efficiency and hydrogen evolution reaction.[4] Additionally, separator technology remains a major bottleneck, with no efficient commercial options. Commonly used glass-fiber and cellulose filters are not optimized for Zn anodes, leading to poor compatibility. Thus, the development of advanced electrolytes and separators is crucial for enhancing aqueous Zn battery performance.
In this study, we have successfully engineered both a high-performing aqueous eutectic electrolyte and a novel chitin-based separator. Our electrolyte formulation is based on the combination of a strongly chaotropic cation, Gua, and a strong kosmotropic anion, Ac, to precisely tailor their strong and weak coordination with water, respectively. This strategy results in a weakly solvated electrolyte with improved ion transport properties alongside stabilisation of the Zn metal anode. On the other hand, the nanochitin-based separator, achieved through surface modification of chitin fibre with amine and carboxylic groups, showcases outstanding mechanical properties and compatibility with Zn anodes. Notably, this separator/electrolyte significantly enhances Zn cycling stability, demonstrating a remarkable increase from a mere 200 cycles with conventional glass-fibre and cellulose separators to 1000 cycles. This combined approach presents a compelling strategy for the advancement of high-voltage aqueous Zn metal batteries, marking a significant step forward in battery technology.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Framework programme under the MSCA Grant Agreement No.101032227.
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