Solvent control of water O−H bonds for highly reversible zinc ion batteries

Abstract Aqueous Zn-ion batteries have attracted increasing research interest; however, the development of these batteries has been hindered by several challenges, including dendrite growth, Zn corrosion, cathode material degradation, limited temperature adaptability and electrochemical stability window, which are associated with water activity and the solvation structure of electrolytes. Here we report that water activity is suppressed by increasing the electron density of the water protons through interactions with highly polar dimethylacetamide and trimethyl phosphate molecules. Meanwhile, the Zn corrosion in the hybrid electrolyte is mitigated, and the electrochemical stability window and the operating…

• AN
  Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
• NC
  National Computational Infrastructure
• AG
  Australian Government
• CS
  China Scholarship Council
• AR
  Australian Research Council

  Awards: DP200101862, DP210101486, FL210100050
• NC
  National Cancer Institute