Unveiling solvation structure and desolvation dynamics of hybrid electrolytes for ultralong cyclability and facile kinetics of Zn-Al alloy anodes
journal contribution
posted on 2024-11-17, 13:59authored byQingyun Dou, Nan Yao, Wei Kong Pang, Yeonju Park, Peixun Xiong, Xiaotong Han, Harpalsinh H Rana, Xiang Chen, Zhong Heng Fu, Lars Thomsen, Bruce Cowie, Yingbo Kang, Qin Liu, Dong Hyun Min, Young Mee Jung, Zaiping Guo, Qiang Zhang, Ho Seok Park
Despite the high theoretical capacity and natural abundance of Al metal anodes, the reversible and fast multivalent storage of Al3+ ions remains challenging because their large charge density leads to strong electrostatic interactions with other components and sluggish kinetics. Herein, we report the record-high plating/stripping time (>8000 h) and high rate capability of Zn-Al alloy anodes in Al3+-containing hybrid electrolytes. The more reversible Al deposition on Zn in nitrile-based hybrid electrolyte than carbonate- and amide-based hybrid and aqueous electrolytes is attributed to weak Al3+-solvent interactions and fast Al3+ transfer kinetics. In particular, these electrochemical behaviors of nitrile-based electrolyte originate from a unique solvation structure, the interrelation among H2O, organic solvents, and Al3+, and the conformational change of bound/free solvents upon desolvation, as elaborated via theoretical simulations, two-dimensional infrared correlation spectroscopy, and other characterizations. The superiority of this hybrid electrolyte was confirmed by achieving a high specific capacity (183 mA h g−1 and 1.08 mA h cm−2) and long cycling of >5000 cycles of full cells integrating Zn-Al alloy anodes (25 μm) with vanadium dioxide/carbon nanotubes (8 mg cm−2) and activated carbon (10 mg cm−2) cathodes, respectively, which considerably exceed those of Al-based full cells.
Funding
National Natural Science Foundation of China (21825501)