Ionic Liquid “Water Pocket” for Stable and Environment‐Adaptable Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries

Abstract The strong reactivity of water in aqueous electrolytes toward metallic zinc (Zn), especially at aggressive operating conditions, remains the fundamental obstacle to the commercialization of aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs). Here, a water‐immiscible ionic liquid diluent 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide (EmimFSI) is reported that can substantially suppress the water activity of aqueous electrolyte by serving as a “water pocket”, enveloping the highly active H 2 O‐dominated Zn 2+ solvates and protecting them from parasitic reactions. During Zn deposition, the cation Emim + and anion FSI − function respectively in mitigating the tip effect and regulating the solid electrolyte…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Award: 52202288
• CP
  China Postdoctoral Science Foundation

  Award: 2022M710106
• WU
  Wuhan University

  Award: 691000003