A bio-based functional separator enables dendrite-free anodes in aqueous zinc-ion batteries
Han Zhang,
Jinbo Li,
Huaizheng Ren,
Jianxin Wang,
Yuxin Gong,
Bo Wang,
Dianlong Wang,
Huakun Liu,
Shixue Dou
Affiliations
Han Zhang
MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
Jinbo Li
MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
Huaizheng Ren
MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
Jianxin Wang
MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
Yuxin Gong
MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
Bo Wang
MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; Corresponding author
Dianlong Wang
MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China; Corresponding author
Huakun Liu
Institute of Energy Material Science, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China; Institute for Superconducting & Electronic Materials, Australian Institute of Innovative Materials, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
Shixue Dou
Institute of Energy Material Science, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China; Institute for Superconducting & Electronic Materials, Australian Institute of Innovative Materials, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
Summary: Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have garnered considerable interest as potential solutions for large-scale energy storage systems, owing to their cost-effectiveness and high safety. Nonetheless, the development of AZIBs is hindered by significant challenges associated with dendrite growth and side reactions on Zn anodes. Here, a bio-based separator derived from cellulose was developed for the dendrite-free anode in AZIBs. In addition, the separator is notable for its ultra-low cost and biodegradability in contrast to the commonly used commercial glass fiber (GF) separators. The mechanical strength of the separator is enhanced by the cross-linking of hydrogen bonds, effectively inhibiting dendrite growth. The zinc-philic groups facilitate better binding to Zn2+, resulting in uniform nucleation and deposition. The hydrophilic groups aid in trapping water molecules, thereby preventing side reactions of the electrolyte. The Zn||Zn symmetric cell with this separator can sustain a long cycle life for over 800 h, indicating stable Zn2+ plating and stripping with suppressed dendrite growth. Concurrently, the assembled Zn||VO2 full batteries exhibited a capacity retention rate of 61.87% after 1,000 cycles at 1 A g−1 with an initial capacity of 140 mAh g−1. This work highlights a stable, economical, and eco-friendly approach to the design of bio-based separators in AZIBs for sustainable energy storage systems.
