Stable, high-performance, dendrite-free, seawater-based aqueous batteries

Tian, Huajun; Li, Zhao; Feng, Guangxia; Yang, Zhenzhong; Fox, David; Wang, Maoyu; Zhou, Hua; Zhai, Lei; Kushima, Akihiro; Du, Yingge; Feng, Zhenxing; Shan, Xiaonan; Yang, Yang

doi:10.1038/s41467-020-20334-6

DOE OSTI · 1762400

Stable, high-performance, dendrite-free, seawater-based aqueous batteries

Tian, Huajun·Li, Zhao·Feng, Guangxia·Yang, Zhenzhong·Fox, David·Wang, Maoyu·Zhou, Hua·Zhai, Lei·Kushima, Akihiro·Du, Yingge·Feng, Zhenxing·Shan, Xiaonan·Yang, Yang

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Abstract

Metal anode instability, including dendrite growth, metal corrosion, and hetero-ions interference, occurring at the electrolyte/electrode interface of aqueous batteries, are among the most critical issues hindering their widespread use in energy storage. Herein, a universal strategy is proposed to overcome the anode instability issues by rationally designing alloyed materials, using Zn-M alloys as model systems (M = Mn and other transition metals). An in-situ optical visualization coupled with finite element analysis is utilized to mimic actual electrochemical environments analogous to the actual aqueous batteries and analyze the complex electrochemical behaviors. The Zn-Mn alloy anodes achieved stability over thousands of cycles even under harsh electrochemical conditions, including testing in seawater-based aqueous electrolytes and using a high current density of 80 mA cm –2 . The proposed design strategy and the in-situ visualization protocol for the observation of dendrite growth set up a new milestone in developing durable electrodes for aqueous batteries and beyond.

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25 ENERGY STORAGE alloy aqueous batteries aqueous batteries, seawater-based electrolyte, dendrite-free, alloy, in-situ visualization dendrite-free in-situ visualization seawater-based electrolyte

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Tian, Huajun, Li, Zhao, Feng, Guangxia, Yang, Zhenzhong, Fox, David, Wang, Maoyu, Zhou, Hua, Zhai, Lei, Kushima, Akihiro, Du, Yingge, Feng, Zhenxing, Shan, Xiaonan, Yang, Yang. 2021-01-11. Stable, high-performance, dendrite-free, seawater-based aqueous batteries. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20334-6

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