Breakthrough in Zinc-ion Batteries: Researchers Introduce a Dual Electrolyte Additive Strategy for Enhanced Stability

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at Xuzhou University of Technology have made significant advancements in the development of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs), a promising alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries due to their high security, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendly attributes. The team's innovative approach involves introducing glycine and graphene oxide (GO) into the ZnSO4 electrolyte as dual additives to improve the performance of Zn anodes. This ground-breaking study has achieved impressive results, with Zn||Zn cells working steadily for over 700 hours at 5 mA cm-2 and 1 mA h cm-2, and Zn||Cu cells exhibiting a cyclic efficiency (CE) of ca. 98.6% over 1300 cycles.

Key Takeaways:

  • The integration of glycine and GO into the ZnSO4 electrolyte has been shown to modulate the Zn2+ solvation structure, reducing the interaction between Zn2+ and SO42-, thereby inhibiting the HER and sulfate byproducts.
  • The addition of GO facilitates charge transfer, promotes uniform zinc deposition, and enables a homogeneous electric field distribution, leading to improved stability of Zn anodes.
  • The combination of glycine and GO in the electrolyte has boosted the stability of Zn anodes, enabling Zn||Zn cells to work steadily for over 700 hours at 5 mA cm-2 and 1 mA h cm-2.
  • The study has achieved an impressive CE of ca. 98.6% over 1300 cycles in Zn||Cu cells, and has also demonstrated improved cycling stability in Zn||VO2 full cells.
  • The research introduces a feasible approach to simultaneously mitigate the HER and Zn dendrites, overcoming one of the primary challenges associated with AZIBs.

Statistics:

  • The Zn||Zn cells have been shown to work steadily for over 700 hours at 5 mA cm-2 and 1 mA h cm-2.
  • The cyclic efficiency (CE) of Zn||Cu cells has been achieved at ca. 98.6% over 1300 cycles.
  • The combination of glycine and GO in the electrolyte has been shown to improve the stability of Zn anodes, enabling consistent performance over an extended period.

Sources:

  • Xuzhou University of Technology
  • New Journal of Chemistry
  • Royal Society of Chemistry - www.rsc.org/
  • News of Science
  • NewsRx LLC - News of Science, June 22, 2025; p 2390