High-entropy solvation chemistry towards affordable and practical Ah-level zinc metal battery

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries offer sustainable large-scale storage potential with inherent safety and low cost, yet suffer from limited energy density and cycle life due to aqueous electrolyte constraints. Here, we introduce affordable, stable electrolyte (0.33 $·kg−1) incorporating minimal multi-halogen anions (Cl−, Br−, and I−) to create a high-entropy solvation structure enabling high-performance zinc batteries. Despite the small amount, the diversified mono-halogenated contact ion pair and multi-halogenated aggregate solvation structures create the unique high-entropy solvation structure, to form the lean-water halogenated interfacial environment, suppressing the hydrogen evolution reaction, while…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy

  Awards: AC02-06CH11357, DE-AC02, 06CH11357, DE-AC02-06CH11357, DE-AC02-
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 52334009, DE-AC02-06CH11357, 52404423, 51874196, 19DZ2270200
• SA
  Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality

  Awards: 23ZR1421600, 21DZ1208900, 19DZ2270200
• OO
  Office of Science

  Awards: DE-AC02-06CH11357, DE-AC02, 06CH11357, AC02-06CH11357
• BA
  Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province
• AN
  Argonne National Laboratory

  Awards: DE-AC02, 06CH11357, AC02-06CH11357