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Hydrotropic solubilization of zinc acetates for sustainable aqueous battery electrolytes

Author

Listed:
  • Dejian Dong

    (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

  • Tairan Wang

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Yue Sun

    (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

  • Jun Fan

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Yi-Chun Lu

    (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

Abstract

Among the more sustainable battery chemistries, the aqueous zinc system is receiving renewed interest. To accelerate the practical applications of this promising technology, an effective strategy is to deploy high salt concentration electrolytes that could address the critical technical barriers, notably hydrogen evolution reaction and dendrite growth at the anode side. However, the state-of-the-art recipes are either zinc-ion deficient or halogen salt dependent, both of which unfortunately create extra challenges. Here we show a highly concentrated aqueous electrolyte formula utilizing zinc acetate, an otherwise poorly water-soluble but cheap and eco-friendly salt. The unprecedented solubility (up to 23 m) is a result of the introduction of hydrotropic agents that transform the acetate anion ligands to a hydrophilic coordination structure. All three hydrotropic agents including potassium acetate, urea and acetamide are effective in constructing highly concentrated zinc acetate electrolytes with which the assembled Zn//pyrene-4,5,9,10-tetraone full cell retains 70% of its initial capacity after 4,000 cycles. This work provides a unique opportunity to design high-performance electrolytes for applications in the wide battery space.

Suggested Citation

  • Dejian Dong & Tairan Wang & Yue Sun & Jun Fan & Yi-Chun Lu, 2023. "Hydrotropic solubilization of zinc acetates for sustainable aqueous battery electrolytes," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(11), pages 1474-1484, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:6:y:2023:i:11:d:10.1038_s41893-023-01172-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-023-01172-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Baojiu Hao & Jinqiu Zhou & Hao Yang & Changhao Zhu & Zhenkang Wang & Jie Liu & Chenglin Yan & Tao Qian, 2024. "Concentration polarization induced phase rigidification in ultralow salt colloid chemistry to stabilize cryogenic Zn batteries," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.
    2. Yang Hong & Kangkang Jia & Yueyu Zhang & Ziyuan Li & Junlin Jia & Jing Chen & Qimin Liang & Huarui Sun & Qiang Gao & Dong Zhou & Ruhong Li & Xiaoli Dong & Xiulin Fan & Sisi He, 2024. "Energetic and durable all-polymer aqueous battery for sustainable, flexible power," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Weibin Yan & Ying Liu & Jiazhen Qiu & Feipeng Tan & Jiahui Liang & Xinze Cai & Chunlong Dai & Jiangqi Zhao & Zifeng Lin, 2024. "A tripartite synergistic optimization strategy for zinc-iodine batteries," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.

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