Polymer engineering for electrodes of aqueous zinc ion batteries

With the increasing demand for scalable and cost-effective electrochemical energy storage,aqueous zinc ion batteries(AZIBs)have a broad application prospect as an inexpensive,efficient,and naturally secure energy storage device.However,the limitations suffered by AZIBs,including volume expansion and active materials dissolution of the cathode,electrochemical corrosion,irreversible side reactions,zinc dendrites of the anode,have seriously decelerated the civilianization process of AZIBs.Currently,polymers have tremendous superiority for application in AZIBs attributed to their exceptional chemical stability,tunable structure,high energy density and outstanding mechanical properties.Considering the expanding applications of AZIBs and the superiority of polymers,this comprehensive paper meticulously reviews the benefits of utilizing polymeric applied to cathodes and anodes,respectively.To begin with,with adjustable structure as an entry point,the correlation between polymer structure and the function of energy storage as well as optimization is deeply investigated in respect to the mechanism.Then,depending on the diversity of properties and structures,the development of polymers in AZIBs is summarized,including conductive polymers,redox polymers as well as carbon composite polymers for cathode and polyvinylidene fluoride-,carbonyl-,amino-,nitrile-based polymers for anode,and a comprehensive evaluation of the shortcomings of these strategies is provided.Finally,an outlook highlights some of the challenges posed by the application of polymers and offers insights into the potential future direction of polymers in AZIBs.It is designed to provide a thorough reference for researchers and developers working on polymer for AZIBs.

An Electrochemical Perspective of Aqueous Zinc Metal Anode

Based on the attributes of nonflammability,environmental benignity,and cost-effectiveness of aqueous electrolytes,as well as the favorable compatibility of zinc metal with them,aqueous zinc ions batteries(AZIBs)become the leading energy storage candidate to meet the requirements of safety and low cost.Yet,aqueous electrolytes,acting as a double-edged sword,also play a negative role by directly or indirectly causing various parasitic reactions at the zinc anode side.These reactions include hydrogen evolution reaction,passivation,and dendrites,resulting in poor Coulombic efficiency and short lifespan of AZIBs.A comprehensive review of aqueous electrolytes chemistry,zinc chemistry,mechanism and chemistry of parasitic reactions,and their relationship is lacking.Moreover,the understanding of strategies for suppressing parasitic reactions from an electrochemical perspective is not profound enough.In this review,firstly,the chemistry of electrolytes,zinc anodes,and parasitic reactions and their relationship in AZIBs are deeply disclosed.Subsequently,the strategies for suppressing parasitic reactions from the perspective of enhancing the inherent thermodynamic stability of electrolytes and anodes,and lowering the dynamics of parasitic reactions at Zn/electrolyte interfaces are reviewed.Lastly,the perspectives on the future development direction of aqueous electrolytes,zinc anodes,and Zn/electrolyte interfaces are presented.

Towards advanced zinc anodes by interfacial modification strategies for efficient aqueous zinc metal batteries

Developing sustainable and clean energy sources(e.g.,solar,wind,and tide energy)is essential to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality.Due to the discontinuous and inco nsistent nature of common clean energy sources,high-performance energy storage technologies are a critical part of achieving this target.Aqueous zinc metal batteries(AZMBs)with inherent safety,low cost,and competitive performance are regarded as one of the promising candidates for grid-scale energy storage.However,zinc metal anodes(ZMAs)with irreversible problems of dendrite growth,hydrogen evolution reaction,self-corrosio n,and other side reactions have seriously hindered the development and commercialization of AZMBs.An increasing number of researchers are focusing on the stability of ZMAs,so assessing the effectiveness of existing research strategies is critical to the development of AZMBs.This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals and challenges of AZMBs.Resea rch strategies for interfacial modification of ZMAs are systematically presented.The features of artificial interfacial coating and in-situ interfacial coating of ZMAs are compared and discussed in detail,as well as the effect of modified interfacial ZMA on the full-battery performance.Finally,perspectives are provided on the problems and challenges of ZMAs.This review is expected to offer a constructive reference for the further development and commercialization of AZMBs.

Vanadium oxide nanospheres encapsulated in N-doped carbon nanofibers with morphology and defect dual-engineering toward advanced aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Vanadium-based electrodes are regarded as attractive cathode materials in aqueous zinc ion batteries(ZIBs)caused by their high capacity and unique layered structure.However,it is extremely challenging to acquire high electrochemical performance owing to the limited electronic conductivity,sluggish ion kinetics,and severe volume expansion during the insertion/extraction process of Zn^(2+).Herein,a series of V_(2)O_(3)nanospheres embedded N-doped carbon nanofiber structures with various V_(2)O_(3)spherical morphologies(solid,core-shell,hollow)have been designed for the first time by an electrospinning technique followed thermal treatments.The N-doped carbon nanofibers not only improve the electrical conductivity and the structural stability,but also provides encapsulating shells to prevent the vanadium dissolution and aggregation of V_(2)O_(3)particles.Furthermore,the varied morphological structures of V_(2)O_(3)with abundant oxygen vacancies can alleviate the volume change and increase the Zn^(2+)pathway.Besides,the phase transition between V_(2)O_(3)and Zn_XV_(2)O_(5-m)·n H_(2)O in the cycling was also certified.As a result,the as-obtained composite delivers excellent long-term cycle stability and enhanced rate performance for coin cells,which is also confirmed through density functional theory(DFT)calculations.Even assembled into flexible ZIBs,the sample still exhibits superior electrochemical performance,which may afford new design concept for flexible cathode materials of ZIBs.

Revealing the role of calcium ion intercalation of hydrated vanadium oxides for aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Exploring suitable high-capacity V_(2)O_(5)-based cathode materials is essential for the rapid advancement of aqueous zinc ion batteries(ZIBs).However,the typical problem of slow Zn^(2+)diffusion kinetics has severely limited the feasibility of such materials.In this work,unique hydrated vanadates(CaVO,BaVO)were obtained by intercalation of Ca^(2+)or Ba^(2+)into hydrated vanadium pentoxide.In the CaVO//Zn and BaVO//Zn batteries systems,the former delivered up to a 489.8 mAh g^(-1)discharge specific capacity at 0.1 A g^(-1).Moreover,the remarkable energy density of 370.07 Wh kg^(-1)and favorable cycling stability yard outperform BaVO,pure V_(2)O_(5),and many reported cathodes of similar ionic intercalation compounds.In addition,pseudocapacitance analysis,galvanostatic intermittent titration(GITT)tests,and Trasatti analysis revealed the high capacitance contribution and Zn^(2+)diffusion coefficient of CaVO,while an in-depth investigation based on EIS elucidated the reasons for the better electrochemical performance of CaVO.Notably,ex-situ XRD,XPS,and TEM tests further demonstrated the Zn^(2+)insertion/extraction and Zn-storage mechanism that occurred during the cycle in the CaVO//Zn battery system.This work provides new insights into the intercalation of similar divalent cations in vanadium oxides and offers new solutions for designing cathodes for high-capacity aqueous ZIBs.

Novel high-voltage cathode for aqueous zinc ion batteries:Porous K_(0.5)VOPO_(4)·1.5H_(2)O with reversible solid-solution intercalation and conversion storage mechanism

Cathode materials that possess high output voltage,as well as those that can be mass-produced using facile techniques,are crucial for the advancement of aqueous zinc-ion battery(ZIBs)applications,Herein,we present for the first time a new porous K_(0.5)VOPO_(4)·1.5H_(2)O polyanionic cathode(P-KIVP)with high output voltage(above 1.2 V)that can be manufactured at room temperature using straightforward coprecipitation and etching techniques.The P-KVP cathode experiences anisotropic crystal plane expansion via a sequential solid-solution intercalation and phase co nversion pathway throughout the Zn^(2+)storage process,as confirmed by in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction and ex-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.Similar to other layered vanadium-based polyanionic materials,the P-KVP cathode experiences a progressive decline in voltage during the cycle,which is demonstrated to be caused by the irreversible conversion into amorphous VO_(x).By introducing a new electrolyte containing Zn(OTF)_(2) to a mixed triethyl phosphate and water solution,it is possible to impede this irreversible conversion and obtain a high output voltage and longer cycle life by forming a P-rich cathode electrolyte interface layer.As a proof-of-concept,the flexible fiber-shaped ZIBs based on modified electrolyte woven into a fabric watch band can power an electronic watch,highlighting the application potential of P-KVP cathode.

Design Strategies for Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries with High Zinc Utilization: From Metal Anodes to Anode-Free Structures

Aqueous zinc metal batteries(AZMBs)are promising candidates for next-generation energy storage due to the excellent safety, environmental friendliness, natural abundance, high theoretical specific capacity, and low redox potential of zinc(Zn) metal. However,several issues such as dendrite formation, hydrogen evolution, corrosion, and passivation of Zn metal anodes cause irreversible loss of the active materials. To solve these issues, researchers often use large amounts of excess Zn to ensure a continuous supply of active materials for Zn anodes. This leads to the ultralow utilization of Zn anodes and squanders the high energy density of AZMBs. Herein, the design strategies for AZMBs with high Zn utilization are discussed in depth, from utilizing thinner Zn foils to constructing anode-free structures with theoretical Zn utilization of 100%, which provides comprehensive guidelines for further research. Representative methods for calculating the depth of discharge of Zn anodes with different structures are first summarized. The reasonable modification strategies of Zn foil anodes, current collectors with pre-deposited Zn, and anode-free aqueous Zn metal batteries(AF-AZMBs) to improve Zn utilization are then detailed. In particular, the working mechanism of AF-AZMBs is systematically introduced. Finally, the challenges and perspectives for constructing high-utilization Zn anodes are presented.

Polypyride intercalation boosting the kinetics and stability of V_(3)O_(7)·H_(2)O cathodes for aqueous zinc-ion batteries

V_(3)O_(7)·H_(2)O(VO)is a high capacity cathode material in the field of aqueous zinc ion batteries(AZIBs),but it is limited by slow ion migration and low electrical conductivity.In this paper,polypyridine(PPyd)intercalated VO with nanoribbon structure was prepared by a simple in-situ pre-intercalation,which is noted VO-PPyd.The total density of states(TDOS)shows that after the pre-intercalation of PPyd,an intermediate energy level appears between the valence band and conduction band,which provides a step that can effectively reduce the band gap and enhance the electron conductivity.Furthermore,the density functional theory(DFT)results found that Zn^(2+)is more easily de-intercalated from the V-O skeleton,which proves that the embeddedness of PPyd improves the diffusion kinetics of Zn^(2+).Electrochemical studies have shown that VO-PPyd cathode materials exhibit excellent rate performance(high specific capacity of 465 and 192 mA h g^(-1)at 0.2 and 10 A g^(-1),respectively)and long-term cycling performance(92.7%capacity retention rate after 5300 cycles),due to their advantages in structure and composition.More importantly,the energy density of VO-PPyd//Zn at 581 and 5806 W kg^(-1)is 375 and 247 W h kg^(-1),respectively.VO-PPyd exhibits excellent electrochemical properties compared to previously reported vanadium based cathodes,which makes it highly competitive in the field of high-performance cathode materials of AZIBs.

High-Voltage Aqueous Zinc Batteries Achieved by Tri-functional Metallic Bipolar Electrodes

Aqueous rechargeable zinc batteries are very attractive for energy storage applications due to their low cost and high safety.However,low operating voltages limit their further development.For the first time,this work proposes a unique approach to increase the voltages of aqueous zinc batteries by using tri-functional metallic bipolar electrode with good electrochemical activity and ultrahigh electronic conductivity,which not only participates in redox reactions,but also functions as an electrical highway for charge transport.Furthermore,bipolar electrode can replace expensive ion selective membrane to separate electrolytes with different pH;thus,redox couples with higher potential in acid condition and Zn=Zn(OH)^(2-)_(4) couple with lower potential in alkaline condition can be employed together,leading to high voltages of aqueous zinc batteries.Herein,two types of metallic bipolar electrodes of Cu and Ag are utilized based on three kinds of aqueous zinc batteries:Zn–MnO_(2),Zn–I_(2),and Zn–Br_(2).The voltage of aqueous Zn–MnO_(2) battery is raised to 1.84 V by employing one Cu bipolar electrode,which shows no capacity attenuation after 3500 cycles.Moreover,the other Ag bipolar electrode can be adopted to successfully construct Zn–I_(2) and Zn–Br_(2) batteries exhibiting much higher voltages of 2.44 and 2.67 V,which also show no obvious capacity degradation for 1000 and 800 cycles,representing decent cycle stability.Since bipolar electrode can be applied in a large family of aqueous batteries,this work offers an elaborate high-voltage concept based on tri-functional metallic bipolar electrode as a model system to open a door to explore high-voltage aqueous batteries.

A facile finger-paint physical modification for bilateral electrode/electrolyte interface towards a stable aqueous Zn battery

Since the electrode/electrolyte interface(EEI)is the main redox center of electrochemical processes,proper manipulation of the EEI microenvironment is crucial to stabilize interfacial behaviors.Here,a finger-paint method is proposed to enable quick physical modification of glass-fiber separator without complicated chemical technology to modulate EEI of bilateral electrodes for aqueous zinc-ion batteries(ZIBs).An elaborate biochar derived from Aspergillus Niger is exploited as the modification agent of EEI,in which the multi-functional groups assist to accelerate Zn^(2+)desolvation and create a hydrophobic environment to homogenize the deposition behavior of Zn anode.Importantly,the finger-paint interface on separator can effectively protect cathodes from abnormal capacity fluctuation and/or rapid attenuation induced by H_(2)O molecular on the interface,which is demonstrated in modified MnO_(2),V_(2)O_(5),and KMn HCF-based cells.The as-proposed finger-paint method opens a new idea of bilateral interface engineering to facilitate the access to the practical application of the stable zinc electrochemistry.

Enabling kinetically fast activation of carbon nanotube@nickel selenide through pore-phase dual regulation in aqueous zinc battery

Metal chalcogenide compounds can be used as high-performance cathodes for aqueous Zn batteries.However,the low accessible surfaces and violent volumetric expansion limit their properties and applications.To address these,phase-engineering strategies coupled with a hollow structure were applied to regulate the adsorption/desorption of OH−on the electrode surface and enhance the electrochemical performance.In this study,using a Se@C nanorod template,a series of carbon nanotube(CNT)-supported nickel selenides,including cubic NiSe_(2),NiSe_(2)/Ni_(0.85)Se composites,and hexagonal Ni_(0.85)Se,were synthesized through an in situ selenylation process for the first time.Due to the large specific surface,high porosity,and hollow carbon skeleton,the optimized NiSe_(2)/Ni_(0.85)Se/CNT has a high specific capacity of 616 Cg^(−1),excellent rate capability,and stable cycling performance.In addition,its inside Faradic mechanism was investigated using a series of ex situ characterizations and density functional theory calculations.Thus,the fabricated Ni//Zn battery presents a high energy density of 311.4 W h kg^(−1) at 3485 W kg^(−1) and long cycling life.This study offers an ingenious strategy for designing nickel selenide electrodes and deeper perception for its Faradic mechanism in alkaline Zn battery.

Aqueous Zinc Batteries with Ultra‑Fast Redox Kinetics and High Iodine Utilization Enabled by Iron Single Atom Catalysts

Rechargeable aqueous zinc iodine(ZnǀǀI_(2))batteries have been promising energy storage technologies due to low-cost position and constitutional safety of zinc anode,iodine cathode and aqueous electrolytes.Whereas,on one hand,the low-fraction utilization of electrochemically inert host causes severe shuttle of soluble polyiodides,deficient iodine utilization and sluggish reaction kinetics.On the other hand,the usage of high mass polar electrocatalysts occupies mass and volume of electrode materials and sacrifices device-level energy density.Here,we propose a“confinement-catalysis”host composed of Fe single atom catalyst embedding inside ordered mesoporous carbon host,which can effectively confine and catalytically convert I_(2)/I^(−)couple and polyiodide intermediates.Consequently,the cathode enables the high capacity of 188.2 mAh g^(−1)at 0.3 A g^(−1),excellent rate capability with a capacity of 139.6 mAh g^(−1)delivered at high current density of 15 A g^(−1)and ultra-long cyclic stability over 50,000 cycles with 80.5%initial capacity retained under high iodine loading of 76.72 wt%.Furthermore,the electrocatalytic host can also accelerate the I^(+)↔I_(2)conversion.The greatly improved electrochemical performance originates from the modulation of physicochemical confinement and the decrease of energy barrier for reversible I−/I_(2)and I_(2)/I^(+)couples,and polyiodide intermediates conversions.

Cell-nucleus structured electrolyte for low-temperature aqueous zinc batteries

Rechargeable aqueous zinc(Zn) batteries hold great promise for large-scale energy storage,but their implementation is plagued by poor Zn reversibility and unsatisfactory low-temperature performance.Herein,we design a cell-nucleus structured electrolyte by introducing low-polarity 1,2-dimethoxyethane(DME) into dilute 1 M zinc trifluoromethanesulfonate(Zn(OTf)_(2)) aqueous solution,which features an OTf--rich Zn2^(+)-primary solvation sheath(PSS,inner nucleus) and the DMEmodulated Zn^(2+)-outer solvation sheath(outer layer).We find that DME additives with a low dosage do not participate in the Zn2+-PSS but reinforce the Zn-OTf-coordination,which guarantees good reaction kinetics under ultralow temperatures.Moreover,DME breaks the original H-bonding network of H2O,depressing the freezing point of electrolyte to-52.4℃.Such a cell-nucleus-solvation structure suppresses the H_(2)O-induced side reactions and forms an anion-derived solid electrolyte interphase on Zn and can be readily extended to 1,2-diethoxyethane.The as-designed electrolyte enables the Zn electrode deep cycling stability over 3500 h with a high depth-of-discharge of 51.3% and endows the Zn‖V_(2)O_(5)full battery with stable cycling over 1000 cycles at 40℃.This work would inspire the solvation structure design for low-temperature aqueous batteries.

Manipulating Horizontal Zn Deposition with Graphene Interpenetrated Zn Hybrid Foils for Dendrite-Free Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries

Aqueous zinc ion batteries(ZIBs)with intrinsic safety have great potentials in portable devices,but suffer from limited cycling life mainly caused by serious dendrite growth and unavoidable side reactions of Zn anodes.Herein,graphene interpenetrated Zn(GiZn)hybrid foils are developed for dendrite-free and long-term Zn anodes for high-performance ZIBs.The GiZn anode is prepared by interfacial assembly of reduced graphene oxide(rGO)on the skeletons of zinc foams,followed by mechanical compression into hybrid foils and drying process.The presence of the rGO nanosheets in the GiZn hybrid foils provides abundant zincophilic sites to induce horizontal Zn deposition for Zn metal anodes without the growth of dendrites.Meanwhile,the uniform distribution of rGO nanosheets endows the hybrid foils with superior conductivity and wetting ability with electrolytes for reduced interfacial resistances.As a result,GiZn-based symmetric cells exhibit a small voltage hysteresis of 30.4 mV and remarkable areal capacity of 30 mAh cm^(-2)at 0.5 mA cm^(-2).Further,GiZn anodes also enable the corresponding aqueous Zn||MnO_(2)batteries with high capacity of 168.5 mAh g^(-1)at 8 C,superior to the counterpart with pure Zn foil anodes(72.7 mAh g^(-1)).Therefore,GiZn hybrid foil anodes will shed light on the rational construction of 2D material-interpenetrated Zn hybrid foil anodes for high-performance ZIBs.

Toward stable and highly reversible zinc anodes for aqueous batteries via electrolyte engineering

Featuring low cost, high abundance, low electrochemical potential, and large specific capacity, zinc(Zn)metal holds great potential as an anode material for next-generation rechargeable aqueous batteries.However, the poor reversibility resulting from dendrite formation and side reactions poses a major obstacle for its practical application. Electrolyte, which is regarded as the “blood” of batteries, has a direct impact on reaction kinetics, mass transport, and side reactions and thus plays a key role in determining the electrochemical performance of Zn electrodes. Therefore, considerable efforts have been devoted to modulating the electrolytes to improve the performance of Zn electrodes. Although significant progress has been made, achieving stable and highly reversible Zn electrodes remains a critical challenge. This review aims to provide a systematic summary and discussion on electrolyte strategies for highperformance aqueous Zn batteries. The(electro)-chemical behavior and fundamental challenges of Zn electrodes in aqueous electrolytes are first discussed. Electrolyte modulation strategies developed to address these issues are then classified and elaborated according to the underlying mechanisms.Finally, remaining challenges and promising future research directions on aqueous electrolyte engineering are highlighted. This review offers insights into the design of highly efficient electrolytes for new generation of rechargeable Zn batteries.

High durable aqueous zinc ion batteries by synergistic effect of V_(6)O_(13)/VO_(2) electrode materials

Vanadium oxides have attracted one’s wide attention due to their diverse valences and spatial structure as cathode for aqueous zinc ion batteries.However,a strong electrostatic interaction exists between Zn ions and host materials,which leads to their sluggish reaction kinetics and inferior structural stability.Herein,we design a kind of vanadium-based electrode materials with abundant phase boundaries and oxygen defects.The assembled Zn//V_(6)O_(13)/VO_(2) batteries deliver a specific capacity of 498.3 mA h g^(-1)at 0.2 A g^(-1) and retain a capacity of 485.8 mA h g^(-1)after 100 cycles.Moreover,they achieve a retention rate of 96.8% after 5000 cycles at 10 A g^(-1).The soft pack cells also show excellent mechanical stability at different folding conditions.

High-Performance Aqueous Zinc–Manganese Battery with Reversible Mn^(2+)/Mn^(4+) Double Redox Achieved by Carbon Coated MnO_x Nanoparticles

There is an urgent need for low-cost,high-energy-density,environmentally friendly energy storage devices to fulfill the rapidly increasing need for electrical energy storage.Multi-electron redox is considerably crucial for the development of high-energy-density cathodes.Here we present highperformance aqueous zinc-manganese batteries with reversible Mn2+/Mn4+ double redox.The active Mn4+is generated in situ from the Mn2+-containing MnOx nanoparticles and electrolyte.Benefitting from the low crystallinity of the birnessite-type MnO2 as well as the electrolyte with Mn2+additive,the MnOX cathode achieves an ultrahigh energy density with a peak of845.1 Wh kg-1 and an ultralong lifespan of 1500 cycles.The combination of electrochemical measurements and material characterization reveals the reversible Mn2+/Mn4+double redox(birnessite-type MnO2? monoclinic MnOOH and spinel ZnMn2O4 H?Mn2+ions).The reversible Mn2+/Mn4+double redox electrode reaction mechanism offers new opportunities for the design of low-cost,high-energy-density cathodes for advanced rechargeable aqueous batteries.

High donor-number and low content electrolyte additive for stabilizing zinc metal anode

The aqueous zinc ion batteries(AZIBs)are thought as promising competitors for electrochemical energy storage,though their wide application is curbed by the uncontrollable dendrite growth and gas evolution side reactions.Herein,to stabilize both zinc anodes and water molecules,we developed a modified electrolyte by adding a trace amount of N,N-diethylformanmide(DEF)into the ZnSO_(4)electrolyte for the first time in zinc ion batteries.The effectiveness of DEF is predicted by the comparison of donor number and its preferential adsorption behavior on the zinc anode is further demonstrated by several spectroscopy characterizations,electrochemical methods,and molecular dynamics simulation.The modified electrolyte with 5%v.t.DEF content can ensure a stable cycling life longer than 3400 h of Zn‖Zn symmetric cells and an ultra-reversible Zn stripping/plating process with a high coulombic efficiency of 99.7%.The Zn‖VO_(2)full cell maintains a capacity retention of 83.5%and a 104 mA h g^(-1)mass capacity after 1000cycles.This work provides insights into the role of interfacial adsorption behavior and the donor number of additive molecules in designing low-content and effective aqueous electrolytes.

Regulating interfacial behavior of zinc metal anode via metal-organic framework functionalized separator

Aqueous zinc ion batteries(AZIBs)are one of the promising energy storage devices.However,uncontrolled dendrite and side reactions have seriously hindered its further application.In this study,the metal-organic framework(MOF)functionalized glass fiber separator(GF-PFC-31)was used to regulate interfacial behavior of zinc metal anode,enabling the development of high-performance AZIBs.In PFC-31,there areπ-πinteractions between two adjacent benzene rings with a spacing of 3.199 A.This spacing can block the passage of[Zn(H_(2)O)_6]^(2+)(8.6 A in diameter)through the GF-PFC-31 separator to a certain extent,which promotes the deposition process of Zn ions.In addition,the sulfonic acid group(-S03H)contained in GF-PFC-31 can form a hydrogen bonding network with H_(2)O,which can provide a desolvation effect and reduce the side reaction.Consequently,GF-PFC-31 separator achieves uniform deposition of Zn ions.The Zn‖GF-PFC-31‖Zn symmetric cell exhibits stable cycle life(3000 h at 1.2 mA cm^(-2),2000 h at 0.3 mA cm^(-2),and 2000 h at 5.0 mA cm^(-2)),and Zn‖GF-PFC-31‖MnO_(2) full cell with GF-PFC-31 separator can cycle for 1000 cycles at 1.2 A g^(-1)with capacity retention rate of 82.5%.This work provides a promising method to achieve high-performance AZIBs.

Imide-pillared covalent organic framework protective films as stable zinc ion-conducting interphases for dendrite-free Zn metal anodes

The notorious growth of zinc dendrite and the water-induced corrosion of zinc metal anodes(ZMAs)restrict the practical development of aqueous zinc ion batteries(AZIBs).In this work,a zinc metallized,imide-pillared covalent organic framework(ZPC)protective film has been engineered as a stable Zn^(2+)ion-conducting interphase to modulate interfacial kinetics and suppress side reactions for ZMAs.Compared to bare Zn,ZPC@Zn exhibits a higher Zn^(2+)ionic conductivity,a larger Zn^(2+)transference number,a lower electronic conductivity,a smaller desolvation activation energy and correspondingly a significant suppression of corrosion,hydrogen evolution and Zn dendrites.Impressively,the ZPC@Zn||ZPC@Zn symmetric cell obtains a cycling lifespan over 3000 h under 5 mA cm^(-2)for 1 mA h cm^(-2).The ZPC@Zn||NH_(4)V_(4)O_(10)coin-type full battery delivers a specific capacity of 195.8 mA h g^(-1)with a retention rate of78.5%at 2 A g^(-1)after 1100 cycles,and the ZPC@Zn||NH_(4)V_(4)O_(10) pouch full cell shows a retention of70.1%in reversible capacity at 3 A g^(-1)after 1100 cycles.The present incorporation of imide-linked covalent organic frameworks in the surface modification of ZMAs will offer fresh perspectives in the search for ideal protective films for the practicality of AZIBs.