Erythritol as a Saccharide Multifunctional Electrolyte Additive for Highly Reversible Zinc Anode
Linjie Li,
Zongwei Guo,
Shiteng Li,
Piting Cao,
Weidong Du,
Deshi Feng,
Wenhui Wei,
Fengzhao Xu,
Chuangen Ye,
Mingzhi Yang,
Jing Zhang,
Xingshuang Zhang,
Yong Li
Affiliations
Linjie Li
Key Laboratory for High Strength Lightweight Metallic Materials of Shandong Province (HM), Advanced Materials Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China
Zongwei Guo
State Key Laboratory of Biobased Materials and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250353, China
Shiteng Li
Heilongjiang Institute of Technology, College of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Harbin 150006, China
Piting Cao
Equipment Department, Sinopec Offshore Oilfield Service Company Shanghai Drilling Division, Shanghai 201208, China
Weidong Du
Key Laboratory for High Strength Lightweight Metallic Materials of Shandong Province (HM), Advanced Materials Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China
Deshi Feng
Key Laboratory for High Strength Lightweight Metallic Materials of Shandong Province (HM), Advanced Materials Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China
Wenhui Wei
Key Laboratory for High Strength Lightweight Metallic Materials of Shandong Province (HM), Advanced Materials Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China
Fengzhao Xu
Key Laboratory for High Strength Lightweight Metallic Materials of Shandong Province (HM), Advanced Materials Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China
Chuangen Ye
Key Laboratory for High Strength Lightweight Metallic Materials of Shandong Province (HM), Advanced Materials Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China
Mingzhi Yang
Key Laboratory for High Strength Lightweight Metallic Materials of Shandong Province (HM), Advanced Materials Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China
Jing Zhang
Key Laboratory for High Strength Lightweight Metallic Materials of Shandong Province (HM), Advanced Materials Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China
Xingshuang Zhang
Key Laboratory for High Strength Lightweight Metallic Materials of Shandong Province (HM), Advanced Materials Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China
Yong Li
Key Laboratory for High Strength Lightweight Metallic Materials of Shandong Province (HM), Advanced Materials Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China
Dendrite formation and water-triggered side reactions on the surface of Zn metal anodes severely restrict the commercial viability of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). In this work, we introduce erythritol (Et) as an electrolyte additive to enhance the reversibility of zinc anodes, given its cost-effectiveness, mature technology, and extensive utilization in various domains such as food, medicine, and other industries. By combining multiscale theoretical simulation and experimental characterization, it was demonstrated that Et molecules can partially replace the coordination H2O molecules to reshape the Zn2+ solvation sheath and destroy the hydrogen bond network of the aqueous electrolyte. More importantly, Et molecules tend to adsorb on the zinc anode surface, simultaneously inhibit water-triggered side reactions by isolating water and promote uniform and dense deposition by accelerating the Zn2+ diffusion and regulating the nucleation size of the Zn grain. Thanks to this synergistic mechanism, the Zn anode can achieve a cycle life of more than 3900 h at 1 mA cm−2 and an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.77%. Coupling with δ-MnO2 cathodes, the full battery delivers a high specific capacity of 228.1 mAh g−1 with a capacity retention of 76% over 1000 cycles at 1 A g−1.
