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Research Article

Fast Zn2+ mobility enabled by sucrose modified Zn2+ solvation structure for dendrite-free aqueous zinc battery

Yufang Cao1,2,3,§, Xiaohui Tang2,§, Linge Li1,2, Haifeng Tu1,2, Yuzhen Hu1,2, Yingying Yu2, Shuang Cheng1,2, Hongzhen Lin1,2, Liwen Zhang2,3, Jiangtao Di1,2,3( ), Yongyi Zhang1,2,3( ), Meinan Liu1,2,3( )
School of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
Key Laboratory of Multifunctional Nanomaterials and Smart Systems, Advanced Materials Division, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China
Division of Nanomaterials and Jiangxi Key Lab of Carbonene Materials, Jiangxi Institute of Nanotechnology, Nanchang 330200, China

§ Yufang Cao and Xiaohui Tang contributed equally to this work.

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Graphical Abstract

A simple sucrose modified aqueous electrolyte has been designed to regulate Zn2+ solvation environment for fastening Zn2+ mobility, and thus achieve dendrite-free zinc batteries.

Abstract

Aqueous zinc battery has been regarded as one of the most promising energy storage systems due to its low cost and environmental benignity. However, the safety concern on Zn anodes caused by uncontrolled Zn dendrite growth in aqueous electrolyte hinders their application. Herein, sucrose with multi-hydroxyl groups has been introduced into aqueous electrolyte to modify Zn2+ solvation environment and create a protection layer on Zn anode, thus effectively retarding the growth of zinc dendrites. Atomistic simulations and experiments confirm that sucrose molecules can enter into the solvation sheath of Zn2+, and the as-formed unique solvation structure enhances the mobility of Zn2+. Such fast Zn2+ kinetics in sucrose-modified electrolyte can successfully suppress the dendrite growth. With this sucrose-modified aqueous electrolyte, Zn/Zn symmetric cells present more stable cycle performance than those using pure aqueous electrolyte; Zn/C cells also deliver an impressive higher energy density of 129.7 Wh·kg−1 and improved stability, suggesting a great potential application of sucrose-modified electrolytes for future Zn batteries.

Keywords

solvation structureZn2+ mobilitydendrite suppressionsucrose

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Nano Research
Volume 16 Issue 3,
March 2023
Pages 3839-3846
DOI: 10.1007/s12274-022-4726-3
Cite this article:
Cao Y, Tang X, Li L, et al. Fast Zn2+ mobility enabled by sucrose modified Zn2+ solvation structure for dendrite-free aqueous zinc battery. Nano Research, 2023, 16(3): 3839-3846. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-022-4726-3
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Received: 19 May 2022
Revised: 28 June 2022
Accepted: 30 June 2022
Published: 28 July 2022
© Tsinghua University Press 2022
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