Carbon Energy (Jun 2023)

Reversible Zn/polymer heterogeneous anode

  • Lingyun Xiong,
  • Hao Fu,
  • Kai Yang,
  • Ji Young Kim,
  • Ren Ren,
  • Joong Kee Lee,
  • Woochul Yang,
  • Guicheng Liu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/cey2.370
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 5, no. 6
pp. n/a – n/a

Abstract

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Abstract Commercialization of Zn‐metal anodes with low cost and high theoretical capacity is hindered by the poor reversibility caused by dendrites growth, side reactions, and the slow Zn2+‐transport and reaction kinetics. Herein, a reversible heterogeneous electrode of Zn‐nanocrystallites/polyvinyl‐phosphonic acrylamide (Zn/PPAm) with fast electrochemical kinetics is designed for the first time: phosphonic acid groups with strong polarity and chelation effect ensure structural reversibility and stability of the three‐dimensional Zn‐storage‐host PPAm network and the Zn/PPAm hybrid; hydrophobic carbon chains suppress side reactions such as hydrogen evolution and corrosion; weak electron‐donating amide groups constitute Zn2+‐transport channels and promote “desolvation” and “solvation” effects of Zn2+ by dragging the PPAm network on the Zn‐metal surface to compress/stretch during Zn plating/stripping, respectively; and the heterostructure and Zn nanocrystallites suppress dendrite growth and enhance electrochemical reactivity, respectively. Thus, the Zn/PPAm electrode shows cycle reversibility of over 6000 h with a hysteresis voltage as low as 31 mV in symmetrical cells and excellent durability and flexibility in fiber‐shaped batteries.

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