Reconfiguring the Electrolyte Network Structure with Bio‐Inspired Cryoprotective Additive for Low‐Temperature Aqueous Zinc Batteries

Abstract Despite promising performance at ambient temperature, the development of aqueous zinc batteries is jeopardized by the freeze of aqueous electrolytes and deteriorative electrode‐electrolyte interphase at low temperatures. Herein, inspired by the cryoprotective mechanism of extracellular polysaccharides in biological organisms, a quaternized galactomannan polysaccharide (q‐GPA) is proposed as a cryoprotective additive for improving low‐temperature performance of aqueous zinc batteries. Mechanistic studies revealed that a multi‐hydroxyl galactomannan backbone can substantially attenuate the activity of water molecules through the reconfiguration of the hydrogen bond network, which inhibits ice crystal…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Award: 522720804
• KT
  Key Technologies Research and Development Program

  Award: 2022YFB3808800
• FR
  Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

  Awards: 30918012201, 30922010308