Highly Electrically Conductive Polyiodide Ionic Liquid Cathode for High-Capacity Dual-Plating Zinc–Iodine Batteries

Zinc–iodine batteries are one of the most intriguing types of batteries that offer high energy density and low toxicity. However, the low intrinsic conductivity of iodine, together with high polyiodide solubility in aqueous electrolytes limits the development of high-areal-capacity zinc–iodine batteries with high stability, especially at low current densities. Herein, we proposed a hydrophobic polyiodide ionic liquid as a zinc-ion battery cathode, which successfully activates the iodine redox process by offering 4 orders of magnitude higher intrinsic electrical conductivity and remarkably lower solubility that suppressed the polyiodide shuttle in a dual-plating zinc–iodine cell. By the molecular engineering of…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 2227832, 52273081
• XJ
  Xi’an Jiaotong University
• SK
  State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment

  Award: EIPE23125
• NS
  Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi Province

  Award: 2022TD-27