Issue 10, 2021

A progressive nucleation mechanism enables stable zinc stripping–plating behavior

Abstract

Severe zinc dendrite growth is a formidable challenge in aqueous zinc-ion batteries during repeated cycles because of the uneven distribution of electric fields on a post-stripping zinc anode. Herein, we demonstrate a totally new nucleation mechanism by introducing cations with high valence (Ce3+ and La3+) into the electrolyte to homogenize electric fields and regulate the zinc deposition behavior. Intriguingly, a detailed evolution investigation of surface morphology discloses that zinc nucleation shifts to progressive nucleation via the preferential adsorption of cation additives from instantaneous nucleation in the addtive-free electrolyte, thereby resulting in the stable zinc stripping/plating behavior. A symmetric cell with 0.01 M Ce2(SO4)3 can be cycled at 5 A g−1 with a lower voltage hysteresis of 83.3 mV for more than 700 h, which is remarkably longer than that of the pristine one (282 h). A higher capacity retention of Zn//NaV3O8·1.5H2O cell (87.0%) after 250 cycles at 5 A g−1 is also achieved in comparison with that in addtive-free electrolyte (68.1%). This work provides new and deep insights into the effects of cation adsorption on zinc nucleation.

Graphical abstract: A progressive nucleation mechanism enables stable zinc stripping–plating behavior

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 Jun 2021
Accepted
23 Aug 2021
First published
23 Aug 2021

Energy Environ. Sci., 2021,14, 5563-5571

A progressive nucleation mechanism enables stable zinc stripping–plating behavior

Y. Li, P. Wu, W. Zhong, C. Xie, Y. Xie, Q. Zhang, D. Sun, Y. Tang and H. Wang, Energy Environ. Sci., 2021, 14, 5563 DOI: 10.1039/D1EE01861B

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